Answer:
1. When the golf ball is sitting on the tee, the forces acting on it are balanced forces. The force of gravity pulling the ball downwards is balanced by the normal force from the tee pushing it upwards, resulting in no net force and, consequently, no movement.
2. The acceleration of an object depends on the net force acting on it and the object's mass. According to Newton's Second Law of Motion, acceleration is directly proportional to the net force and inversely proportional to the mass (a = F/m).
3. The diagram in the Information Box indicates that the path of the golf ball after the club hits it is a straight line likely for simplicity and to illustrate the initial direction of the ball's motion. In reality, the ball would follow a parabolic trajectory due to the influence of gravity and air resistance. The straight-line depiction helps to understand the immediate effect of the applied force by the club.