An octopus propels itself through the water by ejecting water through a funnel in its body. How does this demonstrate Newton’s third law?

Question

a. When the octopus ejects the water out, the water acts with an equal force on the surrounding water in the opposite direction.
b. When the octopus ejects the water out, the water acts with an equal force on the octopus in the same direction.
c. When the octopus ejects the water out, the water acts with an equal force on the octopus in the opposite direction
d. When the octopus ejects the water out, the water acts with an equal force on the surrounding water in the same direction

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

c. When the octopus ejects the water out, the water acts with an equal force on the octopus in the opposite direction.

This demonstrates Newton's third law, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When the octopus pushes water out through its funnel, the force exerted on the water results in an equal and opposite force acting back on the octopus, propelling it in the opposite direction.