Final answer:
Using Newton's second law (F = ma), the acceleration of the sled is calculated by dividing the force (12 N) by the mass of the sled (4.6 kg), resulting in an acceleration of 2.61 m/s², which is option A.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the sled's acceleration, we can use Newton's second law of motion, which states that the force acting on an object is equal to the mass of the object multiplied by its acceleration (F = ma). In this case, the only horizontal force acting on the sled is the applied force of 12 N. Since there is no mention of any friction or other forces acting on the sled, we'll assume that the entire 12 N contributes to the sled's acceleration.
The formula for acceleration (a) given the force (F) and the mass (m) of the sled is : a = F / m
Plugging in the values from the question : a = 12 N / 4.6 kg = 2.60869565217 m/s²
Thus, to two decimal places, the acceleration of the sled is roughly 2.61 m/s², which corresponds to option A.
The problem does not present any complicating factors such as friction, inclines, or air resistance. Hence, the calculation is straightforward. With the acceleration found, you can see that when a force is applied to an object, the acceleration is directly proportional to the force and inversely proportional to the object's mass.