You Are in Distant Space

Multiple Choice

You are in distant space. A giant boulder, many times larger than you, is at rest in front of you. You tap the boulder lightly with a small hammer. What does the boulder do?

A) It speeds up a little during the tap, but after the tap it soon [within a few minutes] slows down and comes to rest.
B) It accelerates during the tap, up to a slow speed [slower than walking speed], then keeps moving at that speed.
C) It remains at rest.
D) It accelerates both during and after the tap.
E) It accelerates during the tap, up to a high speed [faster than a fast- moving car], then keeps moving at that speed.