Question

Scientists are modeling different ways a satellite and an asteroid might crash into each other. They used the same satellite in both crashes, but two different asteroids-a black one with more mass for Crash 1 and a gray one with less mass for Crash 2. Use the information from the diagram to answer In which crash does a satellite experience the stronger force? How do you know?

a. It was the same force in both crashes; the asteroid changed speed by the same amount in each crash, so the force on the satellite was the same each time.
b. Crash 1; the force exerted by the black asteroid would have been stronger in this crash, so the force on the satellite would also have been stronge
c. The diagram doesn't tell you anything about the force on the satellite. It only gives infornation about the C force on the asteroids.
d. There is no force on the satellite. In both crashes, only the asteroid experiences a force.

Answer 1

The satellite experiences a stronger force in Crash 1 with the black asteroid due to its greater mass, according to Newton's second and third laws of motion.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the scenario where two different asteroids collide with the same satellite, the force experienced by the satellite will be stronger in the collision with the more massive asteroid. According to Newton's third law of motion, when two objects interact, they apply forces to each other of equal magnitude and opposite direction. So, the force on the satellite is equal and opposite to the force it exerts on the asteroid. Furthermore, according to Newton's second law, Force equals mass times acceleration (F = ma).

Therefore, for Crash 1 with the black, more massive asteroid, the force involved would indeed be greater, as a larger mass would cause a larger force for the same acceleration. This aligns with letter b: Crash 1; the force exerted by the black asteroid would have been stronger in this crash, so the force on the satellite would also have been stronger. In Crash 2, with a less massive asteroid, the force would be smaller. It’s essential to note that while the force is the same on both objects in an interaction, the acceleration each experiences differs based on its mass. A more massive asteroid would have a smaller acceleration for a given force, while the satellite, with less mass, would experience a greater acceleration.