Final answer:
The net force acting on the book is 2.05 N, and the work done by the applied force is 6.5 J when pushing the book 2.50 m with a horizontal force while overcoming friction.
Step-by-step explanation:
When you are pushing a book across a table with a horizontal force of 2.60 N against a frictional force of 0.550 N, we can calculate the net force acting on the book as follows:
a) Net Force: The net force is found by subtracting the frictional force from the applied force. So, the net force (Fnet) would be 2.60 N - 0.550 N, which equals 2.05 N.
b) Work Done by Applied Force: The work done (W) by a force is calculated by the equation W = force x distance. Since the applied force is 2.60 N and the book is moved over a distance of 2.50 m, the work done by the applied force is 2.60 N x 2.50 m, which amounts to 6.5 J.
Therefore, the net force acting on the book is 2.05 N, and the work done by your applied force is 6.5 J.