Final answer:
The correct option is 2). A law requiring all scales to be tested for accuracy is a political force in the marketing environment, as it pertains to governmental regulations affecting business operations.
Step-by-step explanation:
A law mandating that all scales sold be tested for accurate weight readouts would most closely be an example of a political force in the external marketing environment. This is because such laws are created and enforced by governmental bodies and have a direct impact on how businesses operate, ensuring that the products they sell meet certain standards and regulations.
In the physical sciences, forces can be categorized into two types: contact forces and field forces. Contact forces require direct physical contact between objects, whereas field forces, such as gravitational force, act without direct contact. When relating this concept to the operation of a bathroom scale, it essentially measures the normal force exerted on the body due to gravity, a field force.
However, the creation and enforcement of laws and regulations fall into the realm of political factors influencing market dynamics. These are not related to the physical concept of forces but more to the regulatory environment that businesses must navigate. Thus, the question about the law for testing scales relates to political forces within the marketing environment.