Newton Third Law of Motion

Newton’s third Law of Motion

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What is 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 another object, the second object will exert an equal and opposite force on the first object.

This law applies to the force of gravity as well. When an object exerts a gravitational force on another object, the second object will exert an equal and opposite gravitational force on the first object. For example, the Earth exerts a gravitational force on the moon, and the moon exerts an equal and opposite gravitational force on the Earth. This is what causes the moon to orbit the Earth.

Examples of Application of Newtons’s Third Law of Motion:

  • When you sit in a chair, your weight exerts a force on the chair, and the chair exerts an equal and opposite force on you, supporting your weight.
  • When a person walks, they push against the ground with their feet. The ground exerts an equal and opposite force on the person, which propels them forward.
  • When a rocket launches, the exhaust gases exert a force on the rocket, propelling it upward. At the same time, the rocket exerts an equal and opposite force on the exhaust gases, causing them to shoot out the back of the rocket.
  • When a ball is thrown against a wall, the ball exerts a force on the wall, and the wall exerts an equal and opposite force on the ball, causing it to bounce back.
  • When a person swims in a pool, they push against the water with their arms and legs. The water exerts an equal and opposite force on the person, allowing them to move through the water.

Newton’s third law of motion and the law of gravitation both describe the fundamental nature of forces in the universe and how they act upon objects. The third law explains how forces are always equal and opposite, while the law of gravitation explains how the force of gravity acts between all objects with mass.

 

Newton’s third Law of Motion FAQs

Newton's Third Law of Motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. It means that whenever an object exerts a force on another object, the second object exerts a force of equal magnitude but in the opposite direction on the first object.
Certainly! A classic example is when you push against a wall. When you exert a force on the wall by pushing it, the wall exerts an equal and opposite force back on you. Although you are pushing on the wall, you don't move because the wall's reaction force cancels out your force.
No, Newton's Third Law applies to objects in both motion and at rest. Whenever two objects interact, they exert equal and opposite forces on each other, regardless of their state of motion.
Newton's Third Law plays a crucial role in the motion of rockets. When a rocket engine expels gas or propellant at high speeds in one direction (action), it experiences a reactive force pushing it forward (reaction). This is how rockets propel themselves through space.
Certainly! According to Newton's Third Law, when an object is submerged in a fluid (like water), it experiences an upward buoyant force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object. This upward force opposes the object's weight, allowing it to float or experience an apparent weight reduction.
Yes, Newton's Third Law applies to all forces, including non-contact forces like magnetism and gravity. For example, when two magnets attract each other, one magnet exerts a force on the other, and the other magnet exerts an equal and opposite force back.
Newton's Third Law has numerous practical applications. Some examples include understanding the mechanics of collisions, designing efficient propulsion systems, analyzing the behavior of fluids, and developing technologies like airbags that rely on the principle of equal and opposite forces to minimize impact.

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