Final answer:
The net force on the toy is 5.2 N (16.1 N - 10.9 N), and when divided by the toy's mass (0.16 kg), the acceleration is calculated to be 32.5 m/s².
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the acceleration of the toy, we need to determine the net force acting upon it. According to Newton's second law, acceleration is the net force divided by the mass of the object. Here, a child applies a force of 16.1 N and a puppy applies an opposing force of 10.9 N on a 0.16 kg toy.
We calculate the net force by subtracting the smaller force from the larger one: 16.1 N (child's force) - 10.9 N (puppy's force) = 5.2 N (net force). To find the acceleration (a), use Newton's second law (a = F/m), where F is the net force and m is the mass of the toy.
Thus, the acceleration of the toy is 5.2 N / 0.16 kg = 32.5 m/s2.