Question

What explains the dramatically different magnitudes of accelerations that result when a mosquito collides head on with a moving truck? what explains the dramatically different magnitudes of accelerations that result when a mosquito collides head on with a moving truck? unequal masses of the bus and the mosquito different directions of motion of the bus and the mosquito unequal velocities of the bus and the mosquito unequal forces exerted on the bus and the mosquito?

Answer 1

Answer: Unequal masses of bus and mosquito.

From Newton's third law, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. It means when the mosquito and bus collide, they exert equal force on each other. This also implies, the rate of change of momentum is equal.

$Force = mass \times acceleration\\ \Rightarrow acceleration=\frac {Force}{mass}$

Now, the force is equal. Had the mass been equal, the acceleration would have been the same. But due to the huge difference in the mass of the mosquito and bus, the magnitudes of the accelerations are different.