Final answer:
Using Newton's second law and assuming no friction between block m2 and the surface, the total force of 1.93 × 10² N applied on a combined mass of 12.0 kg leads to an acceleration of 16.08 m/s² for the system.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the acceleration of the two blocks when a horizontal force is applied, we use Newton's second law of motion. Newton's second law states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force applied to it and inversely proportional to its mass (F = ma).
Without specific details about the connection between the two blocks (e.g., are they connected by a string, are there any pulleys involved, etc.), we will assume they are directly adjacent and there are no other external forces aside from the applied force and friction. Since the question doesn't provide details on whether there's friction between block m2 and the surface, we will also assume it to be frictionless for this case.
In such a scenario, the total mass of the system (m1 + m2) would be (4.0 kg + 8.0 kg) = 12.0 kg. The total force applied is given to be 1.93 × 10² N. For the purpose of calculating acceleration, we would divide the total force by the total mass:
a = F / (m1 + m2)
a = (1.93 × 10² N) / 12.0 kg
a = 16.08 m/s²
Therefore, the acceleration of the system would be 16.08 m/s².