To solve this problem, we need to use Newton's Second Law of Motion, which states that the force applied to an object causes it to accelerate. Mathematically, this relationship is expressed as:
[tex]\[ F = ma \][/tex]
where:
- \( F \) is the force,
- \( m \) is the mass of the object, and
- \( a \) is the acceleration.
Given in the problem:
- The mass \( m \) of the shopping cart is \( 8 \) kg.
- The acceleration \( a \) is \( 4 \) m/s².
To find the force \( F \), we simply multiply the mass by the acceleration:
[tex]\[ F = 8 \, \text{kg} \times 4 \, \text{m/s}^2 \][/tex]
[tex]\[ F = 32 \, \text{N} \][/tex]
Hence, the force used to push the cart is \( 32 \) Newtons.
The correct answer is:
[tex]\[ 32 \, \text{N} \][/tex]
