Acceleration = (change in speed) / (time for the change)
Change in speed = (speed at the end) minus (speed at the beginning.
The cart's acceleration is
(0 - 2 m/s) / (0.3 sec)
= ( -2 / 0.3 ) (m/s²) = -(6 and 2/3) m/s² .
Newton's second law of motion says
Force = (mass) x (acceleration) .
For this cart: Force = (1.5 kg) x ( - 6-2/3 m/s²)
= ( - 1.5 x 20/3 ) (kg-m/s²)
= - 10 newtons .
The force is negative because it acts opposite to the direction in which the cart is moving, it causes a negative acceleration, and it eventually stops the cart.
