Final answer:
The net force required to maintain a 5 kg object's constant velocity of 2 m/s eastward is zero Newtons, following Newton's first law of motion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The amount of net force required to keep a 5 kg object moving east with a constant velocity of 2 m/s is zero Newtons (0 N). This conclusion follows from Newton's first law of motion, sometimes referred to as the law of inertia, which states that an object will continue in its state of motion (whether at rest or moving with constant velocity) as long as the net force acting on it is zero. Since the object is moving with a constant velocity, it means that there are no unbalanced forces acting on it, and therefore, the net force must be zero.