Newton's Third Law states: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
In the context of a collision:
* Action: The vehicle exerts a force on the object it strikes.
* Reaction: The object exerts an equal and opposite force back on the vehicle.
Therefore, if the time of contact is the same for both the vehicle and the object, the magnitude of the force experienced by the vehicle is equal to the magnitude of the force it exerted on the object.
Important Note: While the magnitudes of the forces are equal, the effects on the vehicle and the object might be different. This is because the impulse (force multiplied by time) experienced by each object depends on their respective masses. A heavier vehicle will experience less acceleration (change in velocity) than a lighter object, even if the force acting on them is the same.
