Final answer:
The force exerted on the Space Shuttle during liftoff, with a mass of 2,041,000 kg and an acceleration of 16 m/s2, is 32,656,000 Newtons, calculated using Newton's second law of motion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to calculating the force acting on the Space Shuttle during liftoff using the given mass and acceleration. To find the force, we use Newton's second law of motion, which states that force equals mass times acceleration (F = m * a). Given the Space Shuttle's liftoff mass of 2,041,000 kg and an acceleration of 16 m/s2, the calculation is straightforward:
F = m * a
F = 2,041,000 kg * 16 m/s2
F = 32,656,000 Newtons (N)
Therefore, the force exerted on the Space Shuttle at liftoff is 32,656,000 Newtons.