According to Newton's 3rd law, the force on the (smaller) moon due to the (larger) earth is?
a. greater in magnitude than, and in the opposite direction from, the force on the earth due to the moon.
b. greater in magnitude than, and in the same direction as, the force on the earth due to the moon.
c. equal in magnitude to, and in the opposite direction from, the force on the earth due to the moon.
d. equal in magnitude to, and in the same direction as, the force on the earth due to the moon.
e. smaller in magnitude than, and in the opposite direction from, the force on the earth due to the moon.
f. smaller in magnitude than, and in the same direction as, the force on the earth due to the moon.

According to Newton's 3rd law, the force on the (smaller) moon due to the (larger) earth is "equal in magnitude to, and in the opposite direction from, the force on the earth due to the moon".

Option: C

Explanation:

A force is a push or pull acting on an entity as a consequence of its contact with a particular object. Such two phenomena are called forces of action and reaction, and are the origin of the third law of motion by Newton.

This law states the force of the moon on earth is equal and opposite to the force of earth on the moon. The enticing force operating between a satellite orbiting the earth in a circular path allows the object to accelerate towards earth, but since it maintains its circular orbit, it never gets closer to earth.