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:

Step1: Recall Newton's third - law

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Step2: Analyze the crashes

When the asteroid crashes into the moon or planet, the force exerted by the asteroid on the celestial body is equal in magnitude to the force exerted by the celestial body on the asteroid. Since the planet has more mass than the moon, according to Newton's second - law $F = ma$ (where a greater mass will experience a smaller acceleration for the same force), when the asteroid crashes into the planet, the force on the planet is stronger due to its greater mass. By Newton's third - law, the force on the asteroid is also stronger in the crash with the planet compared to the crash with the moon.

Answer:

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