Question

Mr. Jenkins accidentally backed his car into a stationary light pole. The collision caused damage to his car's bumper, trunk, and tail light. If the light pole was not moving, how did Mr. Jenkins' car get damaged?
A.
The car exerted ten times as much force on the light pole as the light pole exerted on the car.
B.
The light pole exerted ten times as much force on the car as the car exerted on the light pole.
C.
The damage to Mr. Jenkins' car was caused by an outside force that was not exerted by the pole.
D.
The light pole exerted the same force on the car that the car exerted on the light pole.

Answer 1

D.

By Newton’s third law the pole and car exert equal and opposite forces on each other in the collision. The pole can stay stationary (because it’s fixed/anchored) yet still apply a large force that deforms the car and absorbs the car’s kinetic energy, causing the damage.