Force And Laws Of Motion

Quickly browse through questions and notes on related topics. You can also download and read this topic offline.

• Questions
• Summary

Newton’s Third Law of Motion states that to every action there is an equal an opposite reaction.

Explanation: Whenever a force is applied over a body, that body also applies the same force of equal magnitude and in opposite direction.

Example –

1. Walking of a person - A person is able to walk because of the Newton’s Third Law of Motion. During walking, a person pushes the ground in backward direction and in the reaction the ground also pushes the person with equal magnitude of force but in opposite direction. This enables him to move in forward direction against the push.
2. Recoil of gun - When bullet is fired from a gun, the bullet also pushes the gun in opposite direction, with equal magnitude of force. This results in gunman feeling a backward push from the butt of gun.
3. Propulsion of a boat in forwarding direction – Sailor pushes water with an oar in a backward direction; resulting water pushing the oar in forward direction. Consequently, the boat is pushed in forward direction. Force applied by oar and water are of equal magnitude but in opposite directions.