A uniform thin rod of length \(L\) and mass \(M\) lies on a frictionless horizontal tabletop and is constrained to rotate about a fixed vertical axle through pivot \(P\) at one end. The rotational inertia of the rod about the pivot is \(I = \dfrac{1}{3}ML^2\). The rod is initially rotating clockwise with angular speed \(\omega_0\). A small projectile of mass \(m = M\) sliding on the tabletop with speed \(v_0 = \omega_0 L\) perpendicular to the rod strikes the free end of the rod and embeds itself into the rod.

Which row in the table correctly identifies the direction of the final angular velocity of the rod-projectile system immediately after the collision and the net external torque exerted on the rod-projectile system about the pivot during the collision?

	Direction of Final Angular Velocity	Net External Torque About Pivot
(A)	Clockwise	Nonzero
(B)	Clockwise	Zero
(C)	Counterclockwise	Nonzero
(D)	Counterclockwise	Zero