Understanding the Concepts

* Acceleration due to gravity (g): This is approximately 9.8 m/s².

* Newton's Second Law: This states that the force (F) acting on an object is equal to its mass (m) multiplied by its acceleration (a): F = ma.

Calculations

1. Calculate the desired acceleration:

* 1.8 g = 1.8 * 9.8 m/s² = 17.64 m/s²

2. Apply Newton's Second Law:

* F = ma = (1.2 kg) * (17.64 m/s²) = 21.17 N

Answer

The horizontal force that must be applied to produce an acceleration of 1.8 g for a 1.2 kg puck on a frictionless air table is 21.17 Newtons.