Two objects, X and Y, move toward one another and eventually collide. Object X has a mass of 2M and is moving at a speed of 2v0 to the right before the collision. Object Y has a mass of M and is moving at a speed of v0 to the left before the collision. Which of the following describes the magnitude of the forces F the objects exert on each other when they collide? a. The force exerted by X on Y is 4F to the right, and the force exerted by Y on X is F to the left. b. The force exerted by X on Y is 2F to the right, and the force exerted by Y on X is F to the left. c. The force exerted by X on Y is F to the right, and the force exerted by Yon X is F to the left. d. The force exerted by X on Y is F to the left, and the force exerted by Y on X is F to the right.

c. The force exerted by X on Y is F to the right, and the force exerted by Yon X is F to the left.

Explanation:

If we take both objects as one single system, during the collision, assuming no external forces acting, the only forces present are the one that object X exerts on object Y, and the force that object Y does on object X.

These two forces, according to Newton's 3rd Law, form an action-reaction pair, and consequently, are equal in magnitude, acting in opposite directions.

As the object X is moving to the right, the force that produces, (F), is in the same direction (on Y), while for object Y, moving to the left, the force that produces (F also in magnitude) is in the same direction (on X), so the right answer is c.

The effect of the forces is different, due to masses are different, according Newton's 2nd Law.