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

Answer 1

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

By Newton's third law, forces in a collision come in equal and opposite pairs. The pole didn't move because it's anchored (and/or much more massive), but it still exerted an equal reaction force on the car, causing the damage.