Newton's third law

Front

What does Newton's third law state?

Back

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Front

What is an action force?

Back

An action force is the force exerted by one object onto another.

Front

What is a reaction force?

Back

A reaction force is the force exerted by the second object back onto the first object.

Front

Why can't you tell that the Earth has moved when you jump?

Back

The Earth has much more mass, so you can't tell that it moved.

Front

What is an example of Newton's third law in everyday life?

Back

When you push against a wall, the wall pushes back with equal force.

Front

What happens when a rocket launches?

Back

The rocket pushes down on the ground (action), and the ground pushes the rocket up (reaction).

Front

What is the relationship between action and reaction forces?

Back

They are equal in size but opposite in direction.

Front

What is an example of action and reaction forces in swimming?

Back

When a swimmer pushes the water backward (action), the water pushes the swimmer forward (reaction).

Front

What is the role of mass in Newton's third law?

Back

The mass of an object affects how noticeable the reaction is; larger mass means less noticeable movement.

Front

How does Newton's third law apply to walking?

Back

When you walk, you push the ground backward (action), and the ground pushes you forward (reaction).