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 damage to Mr. Jenkins' car was caused by an outside force that was not exerted by the pole.
B.
The light pole exerted the same force on the car that the car exerted on the light pole.
C.
The car exerted ten times as much force on the light pole as the light pole exerted on the car.
D.
The light pole exerted ten times as much force on the car as the car exerted on the light pole.

Answer 1

B. The light pole exerted the same force on the car that the car exerted on the light pole.

By Newton's third law, the forces between the car and the pole are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. The pole didn't move, but it still exerted an equal opposite force on the car that produced the damage.