The following 3 questions refer to the collisions between a car and a truck whose weight is much greater than that of the car. For each description of a collision below, choose the one answer from the possibilities that best describes the size (or magnitude) of the forces between the car and the truck.

A. They are both moving at the same speed when they collide.

a.)The car exerts a greater force on the truck than the truck exerts on the car.
b.)None of these answers correctly describes the situation.
c.)The truck exerts the same force on the car as the car exerts on the truck.
d.)Neither exerts a force on the other; the car gets smashed simply because it is in the way of the truck.
e.)The truck exerts a greater force on the car than the car exerts on the truck.

B. The car is moving much faster than the heavier truck when they collide.

a.)The truck exerts the same force on the car as the car exerts on the truck.
b.)The truck exerts a greater force on the car than the car exerts on the truck.
c.)None of these answers correctly describes the situation.
d.)The car exerts a greater force on the truck than the truck exerts on the car.
e.)Not enough information is given to pick one of the answers above.
f.)Neither exerts a force on the other; the car gets smashed simply because it is in the way of the truck.

C. The heavier truck is standing still when the car hits it.

a.)The truck exerts a greater force on the car than the car exerts on the truck.
b.)Not enough information is given to pick one of the answers above.
c.)The car exerts a greater force on the truck than the truck exerts on the car.
d.)None of these answers correctly describes the situation.
e.)Neither exerts a force on the other; the car gets smashed simply because it is in the way of the truck.
f.)The truck exerts the same force on the car as the car exerts on the truck.

Regardless of the speed of the car or the truck, the magnitude of the force between the car and the truck is the same, according to the Newton's Third Law.

It may feel like the truck exerts a much greater force on the car than the car exerts on the truck, but this is simply a misunderstanding.

If you punch the wall, the force you apply to the wall is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the force that the wall applies to your hand.