Final answer:
To find the magnitude of the second force acting on a 25 kg mass with an acceleration of 25 m/s² in the positive x direction, we use F = ma. Considering only the x-direction forces, the second force must counterbalance the force due to mass and acceleration, resulting in a magnitude of 625 N.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question involves finding the magnitude of the second force acting on a mass based on Newton's Second Law of Motion. Given a mass of 25 kg that accelerates at 25 m/s² in the positive x direction, and one force acting in the negative y direction with a magnitude of 480 N, we can use the formula F = ma, where F is the force, m is the mass, and a is the acceleration, to find the second force.
Since the acceleration is exclusively in the x direction, we shall consider only the forces in the x direction to find the second force. The formula for the total force exerted on the object then becomes F_total_x = ma = 25 kg × 25 m/s², which results in F_total_x = 625 N. We need to keep in mind that the second force should also be in the x direction to achieve the given acceleration.
The second force therefore is 625 N in the positive x direction, which is the net force required to accelerate the mass. Since the 480 N force is in the y direction, it does not affect the calculation for the force in the x direction.