- #1
Dahaka
- 3
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I am what is called an LA (Learning Assistant) for an introductory physics class and I'm a freshman. One problem in which I have in convincing the students is how forces are equal and opposite. For instance:
A large truck breaks down out on the road and receives a push back into the town by a small compact car as shown in the figure below.
While the car, still pushing the truck, is speeding up to get to cruising speed:
A. the amount of force with which the car pushes on the truck is equal to that with which the truck pushes back on the car.
B. the amount of force with which the car pushes on the truck is smaller than that with which the truck pushes back on the car.
C. the amount of force with which the car pushes on the truck is greater than that with which the truck pushes back on the car.
How do I explain the answer and concept to them? Every time I bring this up, they argue that Newton's Law of equal and opposite forces is violated because if they were to be equal and opposite, then the truck would not move.
A large truck breaks down out on the road and receives a push back into the town by a small compact car as shown in the figure below.
While the car, still pushing the truck, is speeding up to get to cruising speed:
A. the amount of force with which the car pushes on the truck is equal to that with which the truck pushes back on the car.
B. the amount of force with which the car pushes on the truck is smaller than that with which the truck pushes back on the car.
C. the amount of force with which the car pushes on the truck is greater than that with which the truck pushes back on the car.
How do I explain the answer and concept to them? Every time I bring this up, they argue that Newton's Law of equal and opposite forces is violated because if they were to be equal and opposite, then the truck would not move.