To calculate the force needed to accelerate an object, we can use Newton's Second Law of Motion, which states:

$F = ma$

where:

• $F$ is the force,
• $m$ is the mass of the object,
• $a$ is the acceleration.

In this case:

• $m = 5 \, \text{kg}$,
• $a = 20 \, \text{m/s}^2$.

Now, let's calculate the force:

$F = 5 \, \text{kg} \times 20 \, \text{m/s}^2 = 100 \, \text{N}$

Thus, the required force is 100 Newtons (N).

Would you like more details or further clarification?

Here are 5 related questions to explore:

1. How does Newton's Second Law apply in everyday situations?
2. What happens to an object's motion if no external force is applied?
3. How does friction affect the amount of force needed for acceleration?
4. What is the difference between mass and weight in calculating force?
5. How would the force change if the acceleration was doubled?

Tip: Always remember that force is directly proportional to both mass and acceleration. Doubling either will double the required force.