Responses
A The insect strikes the windshield with a force, and the windshield exerts no force on the insect.The insect strikes the windshield with a force, and the windshield exerts no force on the insect.
B The insect strikes the windshield with the same force as the windshield strikes the insect.The insect strikes the windshield with the same force as the windshield strikes the insect.
C The insect exerts no force on the windshield, and the windshield strikes the insect with a large force.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.
1 answer
The correct statement that best describes the forces in this situation is:
B: The insect strikes the windshield with the same force as the windshield strikes the insect.
This is in accordance with Newton's third law of motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Therefore, the force exerted by the insect on the windshield is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the force exerted by the windshield on the insect.
