Final answer:
The magnitude of the instruments' acceleration during the first 6 minutes of flight is 9.88 m/s² in the upward direction.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the magnitude and direction of the instruments acceleration during the first 6 minutes of flight, we can use Newton's second law of motion, which states that the net force acting on an object is equal to the mass of the object multiplied by its acceleration.
Given that the mass of the package is 12.4 kg and the lift force provided by the weather balloon is 122.5 N, we can calculate the acceleration using the formula:
acceleration = net force / mass
Substituting the given values, we get:
acceleration = 122.5 N / 12.4 kg = 9.88 m/s²
Therefore, the magnitude of the instruments' acceleration during the first 6 minutes of flight is 9.88 m/s². Since the weather balloon provides a constant lift force acting upward, the direction of the acceleration is also upward.