engineers are trying to improve a race car. their goal is to increase the acceleration of the car using the…

Explanation:

Step1: Recall Newton's second law

Newton's second law is $F = ma$, where $F$ is force, $m$ is mass and $a$ is acceleration. Given the engine provides the same force $F$.

Step2: Analyze the relationship between mass and acceleration

From $F = ma$, we can express acceleration as $a=\frac{F}{m}$. When $F$ is constant, $a$ and $m$ are inversely - proportional.

Step3: Evaluate each option

• Increasing the inertia of the car (inertia is related to mass, increasing inertia means increasing mass) will decrease acceleration according to $a=\frac{F}{m}$.
• Decreasing the reaction force doesn't directly relate to increasing acceleration based on Newton's second law for the car's motion with a fixed - engine force.
• Increasing the action force is not possible as the engine is the same, so the force $F$ is fixed.
• Decreasing the mass $m$ of the car, since $a=\frac{F}{m}$ and $F$ is constant, will increase the acceleration $a$.

Answer:

decreasing the mass of the car