Understanding Action-Reaction Forces

Which of the following is an example of an action-reaction force pair according to Newton's third law?

• A book resting on a table

• A rocket launching into space

• A car accelerating on a highway

• A person pushing against a wall

When a swimmer pushes against the wall of a pool, what is the reaction force?

• The wall pushes back on the swimmer

• The water moves in the opposite direction

• The swimmer moves forward

• The swimmer's hand gets wet

Identify the action-reaction pair when a bird flies by flapping its wings.

• The wings push air down; the air pushes the wings up

• The bird moves forward; the air moves backward

• The wings create lift; the bird gains altitude

• The bird flaps its wings; the bird moves forward

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates Newton's third law of motion?

• A car parked on a hill

• A person sitting in a chair

• A hammer hitting a nail

• A leaf falling from a tree

In a game of tug-of-war, if team A pulls on the rope with a force of 500 N, what is the force exerted by the rope on team A?

• 250 N

• 500 N

• 750 N

• 1000 N

What happens to the forces when a person jumps off a small boat onto a dock?

• The boat moves towards the dock

• The boat moves away from the dock

• The dock moves towards the boat

• The dock moves away from the boat

Which of the following is a real-life application of action-reaction forces?

• A car's engine running

• A person walking on the ground

• A light bulb glowing

• A plant photosynthesizing

When a fish swims in water, what is the action-reaction force pair involved?

• The fish moves forward; the water moves backward

• The fish pushes water backward; the water pushes the fish forward

• The water creates waves; the fish moves through the waves

• The fish's fins move; the fish changes direction

If a person is standing on a skateboard and throws a ball forward, what will happen to the skateboard?

• It will move forward

• It will move backward

• It will stay still

• It will move sideways

Which of the following best describes the action-reaction forces when a rocket launches?

• The rocket pushes down on the ground; the ground pushes the rocket up

• The rocket pushes exhaust gases downward; the gases push the rocket upward

• The rocket's engines create thrust; the rocket moves forward

• The rocket's weight decreases; the rocket accelerates upward