Question

Two asteroids bump in space. The larger one has a mass of 3000 kg and the smaller one has a mass of 100 kg. If the force of the collision is 10,000 newtons on each asteroid, what are their accelerations?

a. The larger one is unaffected by the collision, while the smaller one accelerates at 100 m/s2.
b. The larger one accelerates at 3.33 m/s2, while the smaller one accelerates at 100 m/s2.
c. The larger one accelerates at 100 m/s2, while the smaller one accelerates at 3.33 m/s2.
d. The ...

Answer 1

There's really no such thing as the force of a collision.

F = M A
A = F / M

If a 10,000N net force acts on a 3,000 kg object, then the object's
acceleration is (10,000N / 3,000kg) = 3-1/3 m/s² for as long as the
force on it persists, and zero after that.

If a 10,000N net force acts on a 100 kg object, then the object's
acceleration is (10,000N / 100kg) = 100 m/s² for as long as the
force on it persists, and zero after that.

Those appear to be the numbers in choice-b, but the description
of the event and the situation is misleading.

Answer 2

B) The larger one accelerates at 3.33 m/s² while the smaller one accelerates at 100 m/s².

Step-by-step explanation:

Parameters given:

Mass of larger asteroid = 3000 kg

Mass of smaller asteroid = 100 kg

Force of collision = 10000 N

Since both of them experience the collision force, we can find how that force causes them to accelerate by using the formula of force:

F = m*a

=> a = F/m

For the larger one,

a = 10000/3000 = 3.33 m/s²

For the smaller one,

a = 10000/100 = 100 m/s²