Understanding Newton's Third Law

When a book is resting on a table, which of the following describes the force pair according to Newton's Third Law of Motion?

• The book pushes down on the table, and the table pushes up on the book with equal force.

• The book pulls the table sideways, and the table pulls the book sideways with equal force.

• The book pushes the air, and the air pushes the book with equal force.

• The book pulls the table upwards, and the table pulls the book downwards with equal force.

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A swimmer pushes against the wall of a pool to start swimming. What is the reaction force according to Newton's Third Law?

• The wall pushes back on the swimmer with an equal and opposite force.

• The water pushes the swimmer forward with an equal and opposite force.

• The swimmer pulls the water backward with an equal and opposite force.

• The swimmer pushes the air forward with an equal and opposite force.

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If a bird pushes down on the air with its wings, what is the reaction force?

• The air pushes the bird forward with an equal and opposite force.

• The air pushes the bird upward with an equal and opposite force.

• The air pulls the bird downward with an equal and opposite force.

• The air pulls the bird backward with an equal and opposite force.

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A rocket expels gas downwards. What is the reaction force that allows the rocket to move upwards?

• The gas pulls the rocket downwards with an equal and opposite force.

• The gas pushes the rocket upwards with an equal and opposite force.

• The air pushes the rocket sideways with an equal and opposite force.

• The ground pushes the rocket upwards with an equal and opposite force.

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When you jump off a small boat into the water, the boat moves backward. Which of the following best explains this observation?

• The water pushes the boat forward with an equal and opposite force.

• You push the boat backward with an equal and opposite force.

• The boat pulls you forward with an equal and opposite force.

• The air pushes the boat backward with an equal and opposite force.

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A person is standing on a skateboard and throws a ball forward. What happens to the skateboard and why?

• The skateboard moves forward because the ball pulls it forward.

• The skateboard moves backward because the person exerts an equal and opposite force on it.

• The skateboard stays still because the forces cancel out.

• The skateboard moves sideways because the ball pushes it sideways.

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When a car accelerates forward, what is the reaction force that propels the car?

• The road pushes the car forward with an equal and opposite force.

• The air pushes the car backward with an equal and opposite force.

• The car pulls the road backward with an equal and opposite force.

• The car pushes the air forward with an equal and opposite force.

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A horse pulls a cart forward. According to Newton's Third Law, what is the reaction force?

• The cart pulls the horse backward with an equal and opposite force.

• The ground pushes the cart forward with an equal and opposite force.

• The air pushes the horse backward with an equal and opposite force.

• The cart pushes the ground backward with an equal and opposite force.

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When a person walks, they push the ground backward. What is the reaction force that allows them to move forward?

• The ground pushes the person forward with an equal and opposite force.

• The air pushes the person backward with an equal and opposite force.

• The ground pulls the person backward with an equal and opposite force.

• The air pulls the person forward with an equal and opposite force.

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A fish swims by pushing water backward with its fins. What is the reaction force that moves the fish forward?

• The water pushes the fish forward with an equal and opposite force.

• The water pulls the fish backward with an equal and opposite force.

• The air pushes the fish forward with an equal and opposite force.

• The air pulls the fish backward with an equal and opposite force.

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