Question

Krista is playing tennis at the park. When the tennis ball flies toward her, Krista hits the ball with her racket, which causes the ball to fly in the opposite direction.

According to Newton's third law of motion, which of the following is true?
A.
When the racket hits the tennis ball with a force, the tennis ball applies an equal but opposite force to the racket.
B.
When the racket hits the tennis ball with a force, the ball applies an equal force in the same direction as the racket's force.
C.
When the racket hits the tennis ball with a force, the ball does not apply any reaction force to the racket.
D.
When the racket hits the tennis ball with a force, the ball applies a much weaker force in the opposite direction of the racket's force.

Answer 1

A.

Newton's third law states that forces come in equal and opposite pairs. When the racket exerts a force on the ball, the ball exerts an equal-magnitude force on the racket in the opposite direction. (These forces act on different objects, so they do not cancel each other.)