A student is driving her car when an insect strikes her windshield. Which of the following statements best describes the forces in this situation?
A)The insect strikes the windshield with the same force as the windshield strikes the insect.
B)The insect strikes the windshield with a force, and the windshield exerts no force on the insect.
C)The insect exerts no force on the windshield, and the windshield strikes the insect with a large force.
D)The insect strikes the windshield with a small force, and the windshield strikes the insect with a large force.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to Newton's third law of motion, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Therefore, the force with which the insect strikes the windshield is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the force with which the windshield strikes the insect.

A Student Is Driving Her Car When an Insect Strikes