What are 5 examples of Newton's third law?
1 Answer
Newton's Third Law of Motion states that **for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction**. This means that when one object applies a force on another object, the second object exerts a force of equal magnitude but in the opposite direction on the first object. Below are five examples of this law in everyday life, explained in detail:
### 1. **Walking**
When you walk, your foot pushes backward against the ground. According to Newton's Third Law, the ground pushes forward with an equal and opposite force. This forward reaction force allows you to move in the direction you are walking. Without this reaction force, you would not be able to push yourself forward.
- **Action:** Your foot pushes backward against the ground.
- **Reaction:** The ground pushes forward on your foot.
### 2. **Jumping off a Boat**
If you jump off a boat that is floating on water, you will push the boat backward as you leap forward. This happens because when you push off the boat (action), the boat pushes you with an equal and opposite force (reaction). This is why a boat moves in the opposite direction when you jump off.
- **Action:** You push backward on the boat with your feet.
- **Reaction:** The boat pushes you forward with an equal force.
### 3. **Rowing a Boat**
When you row a boat with an oar, you push the water backward with the oar. According to Newton’s Third Law, the water pushes the oar (and the boat) forward with an equal and opposite force. This forward motion is what propels the boat through the water.
- **Action:** The oar pushes water backward.
- **Reaction:** The water pushes the boat forward.
### 4. **Sitting in a Chair**
When you sit in a chair, your body exerts a downward force due to gravity (weight), pressing down on the chair. In response, the chair exerts an equal and opposite upward force to support you. This is why you don't fall through the chair and remain seated.
- **Action:** Your body exerts a downward force on the chair (gravity).
- **Reaction:** The chair exerts an equal upward force on your body (support force).
### 5. **Rocket Launching**
A rocket launches into space by expelling gas downward at high speed from its engines. According to Newton's Third Law, the expelled gas creates an equal and opposite force that pushes the rocket upward. This force is what allows the rocket to lift off the ground and ascend into the sky.
- **Action:** The rocket engines expel gas downward.
- **Reaction:** The expelled gas pushes the rocket upward.
These examples demonstrate how Newton's Third Law applies to various situations in daily life and the natural world, highlighting the fundamental principle that forces always come in pairs, acting on two different objects.
### 1. **Walking**
When you walk, your foot pushes backward against the ground. According to Newton's Third Law, the ground pushes forward with an equal and opposite force. This forward reaction force allows you to move in the direction you are walking. Without this reaction force, you would not be able to push yourself forward.
- **Action:** Your foot pushes backward against the ground.
- **Reaction:** The ground pushes forward on your foot.
### 2. **Jumping off a Boat**
If you jump off a boat that is floating on water, you will push the boat backward as you leap forward. This happens because when you push off the boat (action), the boat pushes you with an equal and opposite force (reaction). This is why a boat moves in the opposite direction when you jump off.
- **Action:** You push backward on the boat with your feet.
- **Reaction:** The boat pushes you forward with an equal force.
### 3. **Rowing a Boat**
When you row a boat with an oar, you push the water backward with the oar. According to Newton’s Third Law, the water pushes the oar (and the boat) forward with an equal and opposite force. This forward motion is what propels the boat through the water.
- **Action:** The oar pushes water backward.
- **Reaction:** The water pushes the boat forward.
### 4. **Sitting in a Chair**
When you sit in a chair, your body exerts a downward force due to gravity (weight), pressing down on the chair. In response, the chair exerts an equal and opposite upward force to support you. This is why you don't fall through the chair and remain seated.
- **Action:** Your body exerts a downward force on the chair (gravity).
- **Reaction:** The chair exerts an equal upward force on your body (support force).
### 5. **Rocket Launching**
A rocket launches into space by expelling gas downward at high speed from its engines. According to Newton's Third Law, the expelled gas creates an equal and opposite force that pushes the rocket upward. This force is what allows the rocket to lift off the ground and ascend into the sky.
- **Action:** The rocket engines expel gas downward.
- **Reaction:** The expelled gas pushes the rocket upward.
These examples demonstrate how Newton's Third Law applies to various situations in daily life and the natural world, highlighting the fundamental principle that forces always come in pairs, acting on two different objects.