Newton's Third Law of Motion

Newton's third law of motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This means that when one object exerts a force on a second object, the second object exerts a force of equal magnitude in the opposite direction on the first object.

Key Concepts

Action and Reaction: Newton's third law is based on the concept of action and reaction. When one object applies a force on another object, the second object reacts by applying an equal and opposite force on the first object.
Force Pairs: The forces of action and reaction always occur in pairs. If object A exerts a force on object B, then object B exerts an equal and opposite force on object A.
Equal Magnitude and Opposite Direction: The action and reaction forces have equal magnitudes but act in opposite directions.

Examples of Newton's Third Law

There are numerous examples of Newton's third law in everyday life and in the natural world. Some common examples include:

Walking: When you walk, your foot pushes backward on the ground, and the ground pushes forward on your foot, propelling you forward.
Swimming: As you swim, your arms push against the water, and the water pushes back, propelling you forward.
Jumping: When you jump, your legs push down on the ground, and the ground pushes you upwards into the air.

Study Guide

Here are some key points to remember when studying Newton's third law:

Identify action and reaction force pairs in different scenarios.
Understand that action and reaction forces act on different objects.
Recognize that the forces have equal magnitudes but act in opposite directions.
Apply the concept of Newton's third law to real-life situations and physical activities.