Explain Newton’s Third Law and how this relates to objects colliding.

Answer 1

Newton’s Third Law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This means that whenever two objects interact with each other, the forces they exert on each other are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction.

When objects collide, they exert forces on each other due to the impact. According to Newton’s Third Law, the force exerted by one object on the other is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the force exerted by the other object on the first one. This means that the force of impact from one object is balanced by the force the other object exerts back.

For example, if a car crashes into a wall, the car exerts a force on the wall while the wall exerts an equal and opposite force on the car. These forces act simultaneously, and as a result, the car stops and gets damaged while the wall also experiences some form of deformation. The impact forces are equal but in opposite directions, ensuring that both objects experience a reaction due to the collision.

In everyday situations, the application of Newton’s Third Law can be observed in various collisions. For instance, if you throw a ball against a wall, the ball exerts a force on the wall, causing it to bounce back. Similarly, when you jump off a diving board, the force you exert on the board propels you upwards, while the board exerts an equal and opposite force on you, pushing you into the air.

Overall, Newton’s Third Law defines the relationship between forces occurring during a collision. It explains how the forces exerted by two colliding objects are always equal and in opposite directions, ultimately ensuring that objects experience simultaneous reactions during collisions.