To calculate the force exerted by a student, we can use Newton's second law of motion, which states that the force (F) acting on an object is equal to the product of its mass (m) and its acceleration (a).

F = m * a

Given:

- mass of the student (m) = 40 kg

- acceleration (a) = 2 meters per second squared

Plugging these values into the formula, we get:

F = 40 kg * 2 m/s²

F = 80 Newtons

Therefore, the student exerts a force of 80 Newtons.