Question

A 25,000 kg truck collides with a 2,500 kg car. Compare the force exerted on the car (by the truck) to the force exerted on the truck (by the car).

A) Equal forces
B) Force on the car is greater
C) Force on the truck is greater
D) Cannot be determined

Answer 1

According to Newton's third law of motion, the force exerted on the car by the truck is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the force exerted on the truck by the car, making the forces equal.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a 25,000 kg truck collides with a 2,500 kg car, according to Newton's third law of motion, every action has an equal and opposite reaction, which means that the force exerted by the truck on the car is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the force exerted by the car on the truck. Hence, the correct answer to the question is A) Equal forces. This law applies regardless of the masses involved in the collision, so even though the truck is much heavier, both vehicles experience forces of the same magnitude during the collision.