Answer : A ) 0.4
B ) Should be greater than 40N .
A) Here in the first question it's given that a block of mass 3kg is pushed with a force of 12N so it just starts to move. This means the maximum value of static friction ( limiting value) is 12N . We know that ,
[tex]\qquad\qquad\sf\longrightarrow\Large{\boxed{\pink{\sf F_{ms}=\mu_s N}}} [/tex]
[tex]\sf\longrightarrow 12N = \mu_s(mg)\\ [/tex]
[tex]\sf\longrightarrow 12N=\mu_s (3kg)(10m/s^2) \\ [/tex]
[tex]\sf\longrightarrow \mu_s = \dfrac{12N}{30N} \\ [/tex]
[tex]\sf\longrightarrow \underline{\boxed{\bf \mu_{static}= 0.4}} \\ [/tex]
[tex]\rule{200}2[/tex]
B) Now coming to second part of the question which says that a 7kg block is kept on a 3kg block as before . We need to find out the magnitude of force that is required to move the system .
So that ,
[tex]\sf\longrightarrow F_{(applied)}> F_{ms} \\ [/tex]
[tex]\sf\longrightarrow F_{(applied)}> \mu_s mg \\ [/tex]
[tex]\sf\longrightarrow F_{(applied)}> 0.4( 10kg)(10m/s^2) \\ [/tex]
[tex]\sf\longrightarrow \underline{\boxed{\bf F_{(applied)}> 40N }}\\ [/tex]