According to Newton's third law of motion, which statement is always correct?
a If two moving objects collide, then both will stop moving.
b If two moving objects collide, then they will bounce off each other.
c If a moving object hits another object, then the second object will push back.
d If a moving object hits another object, then the second object will start moving.
d If a moving object hits another object, then the second object will start moving.
According to Newton's third law of motion, the correct statement is:
c If a moving object hits another object, then the second object will push back.
According to Newton's third law of motion, the correct statement is:
c) If a moving object hits another object, then the second object will push back.
To understand why this statement is correct, let's explain Newton's third law of motion. Newton's third law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This means that when two objects interact, the forces they exert on each other are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.
In the context of a collision, when a moving object hits another object, it exerts a force on that object. As a result of Newton's third law, the second object will push back with an equal force but in the opposite direction. This is often observed as a recoil, push, or movement away from the impact.
Option a) If two moving objects collide, then both will stop moving, is incorrect because the objects can continue to move after a collision, depending on the circumstances.
Option b) If two moving objects collide, then they will bounce off each other, is not always correct. The behavior after a collision can vary. Some collisions may result in bouncing, while others may result in objects sticking together or undergoing deformation.
Option d) If a moving object hits another object, then the second object will start moving, is also incorrect. The second object may already be moving or may not start moving depending on various factors like its mass, velocity, and the nature of the collision.
Therefore, the correct statement is c) If a moving object hits another object, then the second object will push back.