A small car meshes with a large truck in a head-on collision. Which of the following statements concerning the magnitude of the average force during the collision is correct?
A) The small car and the truck experience the same average force.
B) The small car experiences the greater average force.
C) The force experienced by each one is directly proportional to its mass.
D) The truck experiences the greater average force.
E) The force experienced by each one is inversely proportional to its mass.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to Newton's third law of motion, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This means that the magnitude of the force exerted by the small car on the truck is equal to the magnitude of the force exerted by the truck on the small car during the collision.

A Small Car Meshes with a Large Truck in a Head-On