What net force would be needed to accelerate the box at 2.3 m/s^2

they are non-matter

explanation:

they are non-matter. basically, any type of energy or any abstract concept is an example of something that does not matter. other examples include dreams, magnetism, radio, and hate

when jerome paddle in flowing river towards east the net speed of jerome will increase

so the net speed of jerome will be given as

now the speed of paul will be same as it is given as he is running on the ground

so

so here we can say since the speed of jerome is more so he will win the race

now as we know the distance so the time difference is given as

so jerome will reach first and the time difference will be 203.55 s or 3.4 min