According to Newton's Third Law of Motion, forces always exist in action-reaction pairs acting between interacting objects. For each mechanical action described below, identify its exact corresponding reaction force.
- Helicopter rotors push a mass of air downward.The air exerts an equal upward force against the rotor blades.
- A pneumatic nail gun forcefully drives a nail forward.The nail exerts an equal backward force, causing the tool to recoil.
- The metal treads of an advancing bulldozer push backward against the dirt.The dirt exerts an equal forward force, propelling the heavy equipment.
- A compressed suspension spring pushes downward on a vehicle's axle.The axle exerts an equal upward force against the bottom of the spring.
Answer
Match each action force with the reaction force that reverses the roles of the exact same two interacting bodies and points in the opposite direction.
Newton's Third Law dictates that forces always come in pairs. If Object A exerts a force on Object B, then Object B simultaneously exerts a force of equal magnitude in the exact opposite direction on Object A. The correct matches precisely swap the interacting bodies and reverse the direction of the applied force for each mechanical scenario.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Newton's Third Law (Action/Reaction force pairs)