Understanding Newton's Third Law

According to Newton's third law, when you push against a wall, the wall pushes back on you with a force that is:

• Greater than your push

• Less than your push

• Equal in size but opposite in direction

• Equal in size and in the same direction

A swimmer pushes water backward with her hands. According to Newton's third law, what happens as a result?

• The water pushes her backward

• The water pushes her forward

• The water does not exert any force on her

• The water pushes her downward

Newton's third law states that for every action, there is:

• A smaller and opposite reaction

• A larger and opposite reaction

• An equal and opposite reaction

• An equal and same-direction reaction

When a gun fires a bullet forward, the gun recoils (kicks) backward. This is an example of:

• Newton's first law

• Newton's second law

• Newton's third law

• The law of gravity

Which of the following best describes the action-reaction pair in Newton's third law?

• They act on the same object in opposite directions

• They act on different objects in opposite directions

• They act on the same object in the same direction

• They act on different objects in the same direction

When a bird flaps its wings downward, the air pushes the bird upward. Which law explains this?

• Newton's first law

• Newton's second law

• Newton's third law

• The law of inertia