A hockey player is wearing ice skates and pushes against the wall propelling her backward on the ice. According to Newton's third law of motion, which of the following best compares the forces acting between the wall and the hockey player?

Question

A.
The forces are equal and applied against gravity.
B.
The forces are equal and applied in the same direction.
C.
The forces are different sizes and applied in the opposite direction.
D.
The forces are equal and applied in the opposite direction.

Answer 1

According to Newton's third law of motion, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In the scenario you described, when the hockey player pushes against the wall, she exerts a force on the wall, and the wall exerts an equal force back on her in the opposite direction.

So, the best answer is:

D. The forces are equal and applied in the opposite direction.