Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology

When a gun is fired, both the bullet and the gun undergo acceleration. The bullet's acceleration is

  1. more than the gun's acceleration because it has less mass

  2. more than the gun's acceleration because it receives more force

  3. less than the gun's acceleration because it receives less force

  4. less than the gun's acceleration because it has less mass
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

By Newton's Third Law, the bullet and gun experience equal and opposite forces. By Newton's Second Law (a=F/m), for the same force, the object with smaller mass (bullet) has greater acceleration. The bullet weighs much less than the gun, so it accelerates more.

Keep practicing — related questions