A sledgehammer is swung at a wall. Once the sledgehammer hits the wall it does not breakthrough. How do the hammer and the wall act on each other?
A: The hammer exerts a stronger force than the wall but in the same direction.
B: The hammer and the wall exert forces on each other that are equal in magnitude but in opposite directions.
C: The hammer exerts a stronger force than the wall but in the opposite direction.
D: The hammer and the wall exert forces on each other that are equal in magnitude and in the same direction.
B: The hammer and the wall exert forces on each other that are equal in magnitude but in opposite directions.
To determine how the hammer and the wall act on each other, we can use Newton's third law of motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In this case, when the sledgehammer hits the wall, both objects exert forces on each other.
The correct answer is B: The hammer and the wall exert forces on each other that are equal in magnitude but in opposite directions. When the hammer hits the wall, it exerts a force on the wall. At the same time, the wall exerts an equal and opposite force on the hammer. These forces form an action-reaction pair, which is why they have equal magnitude but opposite directions.
Note that the option A, stating that the hammer exerts a stronger force than the wall but in the same direction, is incorrect because if the hammer were exerting a stronger force, it would likely break through the wall. Option C, stating that the hammer exerts a stronger force than the wall but in the opposite direction, is also incorrect since the forces are equal in magnitude. Finally, option D, stating that the hammer and the wall exert forces on each other that are equal in magnitude and in the same direction, is also incorrect because the forces act in opposite directions.