Question

Nikolas had an idea that he could use the compressed carbon dioxide in a fire extinguisher to propel him on his skateboard.

Which of Newton’s laws would he have used to come up with this idea?

Answer 1

Nikolas would have used Newton's third law, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. By releasing the compressed carbon dioxide from the fire extinguisher in one direction, there would be an equal and opposite force pushing Nikolas (and his skateboard) in the opposite direction, propelling him forward.