NEWTONS THIRD

LAW OF MOTION

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Goals:
Define Newtons Third Law of Motion
Understand how to apply Newtons
Third Law of Motion

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Newtons Third Law of

Motion Definition
Formal Definition: For every action
force on object B due to object A,
there is a reaction force, equal in size
but opposite in direction, due to object
B acting on object A.
Our Definition:

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Newtons Third Law of

Motion Definition
For every action force, there is
always a reaction force.

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Forces and Interactions

Interaction

is between one thing and another.

requires a pair of forces
Example: interaction of hand and
wall

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wall pushing on each other

Force pairyou push on wall;
pushes on you.

Newtons Third Law of Motion

CHECK YOUR NEIGHBOUR
A soccer player kicks a ball with 1500 N of force.
The ball exerts a reaction force against the players
foot of
A. somewhat less than 1500 N.
B. 1500 N.
C. somewhat more than 1500 N.
D. None of the above.

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Newtons Third Law of Motion

CHECK YOUR ANSWER
A soccer player kicks a ball with 1500 N of force.
The ball exerts a reaction force against the players
foot of
A.

somewhat less than 1500 N.

B. 1500 N.
C. somewhat more than 1500 N.
D. None of the above.

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Action and Reaction Forces

Part of a single interaction.
One cannot exist without the other.
Are equal in strength and opposite
in direction.
Always act on different objects.

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Example 1:

Two forces of the same size but

they are in opposite directions.
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Newtons Third Law of Motion

CHECK YOUR NEIGHBOUR
When you step off a curb, Earth pulls you
downward. The reaction to this force is
A.

a slight air resistance.

B. nonexistent in this case.

C. you pulling Earth upward.
D. None of the above.

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Newtons Third Law of Motion

CHECK YOUR ANSWER
When you step off a curb, Earth pulls you
downward. The reaction to this force is
A.

a slight air resistance.

B. nonexistent in this case.

C. you pulling Earth upward.
D. None of the above.

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Newtons Third Law of Motion

CHECK YOUR NEIGHBOUR
When you step off a curb, Earth pulls you downward
and you pull the force upward. Why do you not
sense Earth moving upward toward you?
A.

Earth is fixed, so it cannot move.

B. Earth can move, but other objects on it prevent

it from moving.
C. It moves, but a very small amount that you
cannot see.
D. None of the above.

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Newtons Third Law of Motion

CHECK YOUR ANSWER
When you step off a curb, Earth pulls you downward and
you pull the force upward. Why do you not sense Earth
moving upward toward you?
A.

Earth is fixed, so it cannot move.

B.

Earth can move, but other objects on it prevent it

from moving.

C.

It moves, but a very small amount that you

cannot see.

D.

None of the above.

Explanation:
You exert a force on Earth that is equal to the force it
exerts on you. But you move more than the Earth does,
because its mass is so great compared to your mass
that it moves very little and you do not notice it.

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Newtons Third Law of Motion

CHECK YOUR NEIGHBOR
When a cannon is fired, the accelerations of the
cannon and cannonball are different because the
A.

forces dont occur at the same time.

B. forces, although theoretically the same, in

practice are not.
C. masses are different.
D. ratios of force to mass are the same.

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Newtons Third Law of Motion

CHECK YOUR ANSWER
When a cannon is fired, the accelerations of the
cannon and cannonball are different because the
A.

forces dont occur at the same time.

B. forces, although theoretically the same, in

practice are not.
C. masses are different.
D. ratios of force to mass are the same.

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Newtons Third Law

CHECK YOUR NEIGHBOUR
Consider a high-speed bus colliding head-on with an
innocent bug. The force of impact splatters the
unfortunate bug over the windshield.
Which is greater, the force on the bug or the force
on the bus?
A.

Bug

B. Bus
C. Both are the same.
D. Cannot say

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Newtons Third Law

CHECK YOUR ANSWER
Consider a high-speed bus colliding head-on with an
innocent bug. The force of impact splatters the
unfortunate bug over the windshield.
Which is greater, the force on the bug or the force
on the bus?
A.

Bug

B. Bus

Comment:
C. Both are the same.Although the forces are equal in
magnitude, the effects are very
D. Cannot say
different. Do you know why?

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Newtons Third Law of Motion

CHECK YOUR NEIGHBOUR
Two people of equal mass on slippery ice push off
from each other. Will both move at the same speed
in opposite directions?
A.

Yes

B. Yes, but only if both push equally

C. No
D. No, unless acceleration occurs

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Newtons Third Law of Motion

CHECK YOUR ANSWER
Two people of equal mass on slippery ice push off from
each other. Will both move at the same speed in
opposite directions?
A.

Yes

B.

Yes, but only if both push equally

C.

No

D.

No, unless acceleration occurs

Explanation:
However they push, the result is equal-magnitude forces
on equal masses, which produces equal accelerations;
therefore, there are equal changes in speed.

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Team Challenge
You have been hired to design a rocket that will fly the
highest into the sky. You only have 4 days to design, build
and test this rocket, so you must work quickly.
Instructions:
-Get into groups of 4 (there will be 1 group of 3)
-Design a rocket (you cannot use any chemicals in your
design)
-Test your rocket to make sure that it can fly
-Explain how the rocket uses Newtons 3rd law to move
-Draw a free-body diagram of the forces on the rocket
- Calculate the force that pushes the rocket upwards
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