A 15 kg block is sitting on a level surface. The coefficient of friction between the block and the surface is 0.32. A horizontal force of 25 N is then applied to the block. What is the acceleration of the block while the horizontal force is being applied?

To find the acceleration of the block while the horizontal force is being applied, we can use Newton's second law of motion, which states that the net force acting on an object is equal to the mass of the object multiplied by its acceleration. The equation is given as:

F_net = m * a

Where:
F_net is the net force acting on the object,
m is the mass of the object,
a is the acceleration of the object.

In this case, the net force acting on the block is the horizontal force applied (25 N), minus the force of friction acting against the motion. The force of friction can be calculated using the equation:

f_friction = u * f_normal

Where:
u is the coefficient of friction,
f_normal is the normal force exerted on the block by the surface.

In this case, since the block is placed on a level surface, the normal force is equal to the weight of the block, which can be calculated using:

f_normal = m * g

Where:
m is the mass of the object,
g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s^2).

Now, we can calculate the force of friction:

f_friction = 0.32 * (15 kg * 9.8 m/s^2)

Next, we substitute the values into the net force equation:

F_net = 25 N - f_friction

Finally, we rearrange the equation to solve for the acceleration:

a = F_net / m

Substituting the values:

a = (25 N - f_friction) / 15 kg

By calculating the values and plugging them into the equation, we can find the acceleration of the block while the horizontal force is being applied.