As you are walking, you foot gets caught on an uneven piece of sidewalk and you trip and fall. Which of the following explains what is happening using Newton's Laws?

Question

a
The sidewalk pushed you, causing a rapid force that made you fall
b
The sidewalk provided a force to stop your foot, but the top of your body was still moving which is what causes you to tip over
c
Your foot hit the sidewalk and provided a force on it, so the sidewalk will provide another force back on your foot, equal in magnitude but opposite in direct
d
Your foot pushes the sidewalk with such force that it causes the next piece of sidewalk to be uprooted, which makes your next step miss your footing.

Answer 1

The best explanation for the scenario using Newton's Laws is:

b: The sidewalk provided a force to stop your foot, but the top of your body was still moving which is what causes you to tip over.

This explanation aligns with Newton's First Law of Motion, which states that an object in motion will remain in motion unless acted upon by an external force. When your foot catches on the uneven sidewalk, the foot comes to a sudden stop, while the upper part of your body continues moving forward due to inertia, leading to the fall.