Answer :
Final answer:
After the box is released, while it is sliding across the floor, it will continue to move to the right due to its inertia, as per Newton's first law of motion.
Explanation:
The key concept here is Newton's first law of motion, which states that an object will remain at rest or in uniform motion in a straight line unless acted upon by an external force. When a person pushes a box and then releases it, allowing the box to slide freely across the floor, the box will gradually slow down due to friction, assuming there is friction present which is common in real-world scenarios unless it is specifically stated that the surface is frictionless. In the context given, where the pusher has released the box and it is moving to the right at 39.3 m/s, after release, the box will continue to move to the right. Hence, the correct answer is:
b) The box moves to the right.
This describes the post-release motion of the box due to its inertia. Over time, if factors like friction or other forces are at play, the box will eventually come to a stop, but immediately after release, it is in motion to the right.
