A horizontal force of 4 N is applied to a block of mass 2 kg resting on a frictionless table. What is the acceleration of the block in `ms^(-2)` ?

Explanation

To find the acceleration of the block when a horizontal force is applied, 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. This can be expressed with the formula:

\[ F = m \cdot a \]

Where:
- \( F \) is the force applied (in Newtons),
- \( m \) is the mass of the object (in kilograms),
- \( a \) is the acceleration (in meters per second squared).

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Given Values:**
- Force (\( F \)) = 4 N
- Mass (\( m \)) = 2 kg

2. **Use Newton's Second Law:**
According to Newton's second law, we can rearrange the formula to solve for acceleration (\( a \)):
\[ a = \frac{F}{m} \]

3. **Substitute the Values:**
Now, substitute the values of force and mass into the equation:
\[ a = \frac{4 \, \text{N}}{2 \, \text{kg}} \]

4. **Calculate the Acceleration:**
Perform the division:
\[ a = 2 \, \text{m/s}^2 \]

5. **Conclusion:**
The acceleration of the block is \( 2 \, \text{m/s}^2 \).