Question

1. a bug slams into the windshield of a speeding truck. the force of the bug pushing on the windshield is _ (greater than - less than - equal to) the force of the windshield pushing on the bug. the resulting acceleration of the less massive bug is _ (greater than - less than - equal to) the resulting acceleration of the more massive truck.

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze the forces

According to Newton's third law of motion, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When the bug pushes on the windshield, the windshield pushes back on the bug with an equal force. So, the force of the bug pushing on the windshield is equal to the force of the windshield pushing on the bug.

Step2: Analyze the accelerations

According to Newton's second law \(F = ma\), or \(a=\frac{F}{m}\). The forces \(F\) (from the interaction) are equal in magnitude (from step 1). Let \(m_{bug}\) be the mass of the bug and \(m_{truck}\) be the mass of the truck, where \(m_{bug}

If \(F\) is the same for both (bug and truck), and \(a_{bug}=\frac{F}{m_{bug}}\), \(a_{truck}=\frac{F}{m_{truck}}\). Since \(m_{bug}\frac{F}{m_{truck}}\) (when \(F> 0\)). So the resulting acceleration of the less - massive bug is greater than the resulting acceleration of the more - massive truck.

Answer:

equal to; greater than