A swimmer in a race completes a flip turn and uses the action of her legs to push away from the wall of the pool while being supported by the water. Which statement most accurately describes the swimmer in the pool according to Newton’s Third Law?

Question

(1 point)
Responses

only the swimmer exerts a force on the wall

the only forces that cause the motion of the swimmer are the swimmer’s leg muscles and the water

the swimmer exerts a force on the wall; the wall exerts an equal and opposite force on the swimmer

the force between the swimmer’s legs and the wall of the pool are balanced as the swimmer leaves the wall.

Answer 1

The statement that most accurately describes the swimmer in the pool according to Newton’s Third Law is:

the swimmer exerts a force on the wall; the wall exerts an equal and opposite force on the swimmer.

This statement reflects the essence of Newton's Third Law of Motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In this scenario, when the swimmer pushes against the wall with her legs, the wall pushes back with an equal and opposite force, propelling the swimmer away from the wall.