Note: There is no image to take as a reference, so I'm assuming F2 directed to the right and F1 to the left, and F2=2F1
Answer:
to the right
Step-by-step explanation:
Net Force
When several forces are applied to a particle or a system of particles, the net force is the sum of them all, considering each force as a vector. As for the second Newton's law, the total force equals the product of the mass by the acceleration of the system:
If the net force is zero, then the system of particles keeps at rest or at a constant velocity.
The system of particles described in the question consists of two objects of masses m1=M and m2, where
Two forces F1=F and F2 act individually on each object in opposite directions and
We don't get to see any image to know where the forces are applied to, so we'll assume F2 to the right and F1 to the left.
The net force of the system of particles is
The mass of the system is
Thus, the acceleration of the center of mass of the system is
Since F2 is greater than F1, the direction of the acceleration is to the right.
Note: If the forces were opposite than assumed, the acceleration would be to the left