Question

Using a hammer to drive a nail, it is the reaction force that brings the motion of the hammer to a stop but the ___________ that drives the nail into the wood.

Answer 1

Action force

Answer 2

action force

Answer 3

[AI-generated answer — Explain Bot]

In this scenario, it is the force applied by the person wielding the hammer that drives the nail into the wood. The reaction force, on the other hand, refers to the force that opposes the motion of the hammer and eventually brings it to a stop after making contact with the nail.

To understand this concept better, let's discuss Newton's third law of motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When you swing the hammer and it makes contact with the nail, the force you exert on the hammer (action force) causes it to push against the nail. Simultaneously, according to Newton's third law, the nail exerts an equal and opposite force on the hammer (reaction force).

The reaction force, in this case, acts in the opposite direction to the force applied by the person. It slows down and eventually stops the motion of the hammer. However, it is the force applied by the person driving the hammer into the nail that overcomes the resistance of the wood and pushes the nail forward.

So, in summary, it is the force exerted by the person swinging the hammer that drives the nail into the wood, while the reaction force opposes the motion of the hammer and brings it to a stop.