Question

1. scientists created models that show a rocky asteroid crashing into a moon (less mass) and a planet (more mass). in both crashes, the asteroid was the same mass. scientists want to know what happened to the asteroid. use the information in the diagram to answer.

in which crash did the asteroid experience a stronger force? how do you know?
a crash 2: the force on the planet was stronger in this crash, so the force on the asteroid was also stronger.
b there was no force on the asteroid. only the moon and planet experienced a force in each crash.
c the diagram doesnt tell you anything about the force on the asteroid. it only gives information about the force on the planet and the moon.
d the force was the same in both crashes. the planet and moon changed speed by the same amount so that means the force on the asteroid was the same in both crashes.

Explanation:

According to Newton's third law of motion, when two objects interact, the forces they exert on each other are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. In a crash (interaction) between an asteroid and another body (moon or planet), the force on the asteroid and the force on the other body (moon or planet) are a pair of action - reaction forces. If the force on the planet is stronger in Crash 2, then by Newton's third law, the force on the asteroid in Crash 2 is also stronger.

Answer:

A. Crash 2: the force on the planet was stronger in this crash, so the force on the asteroid was also stronger.