Describe the real-world examples of Newton's third law that were identified in “Applications of Newton's Laws.”
1. When a person jumps off a diving board into a pool, the action force is the person pushing down on the board, and the reaction force is the board pushing back up on the person. This is an example of Newton's third law, as for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
2. When a rocket is launched into space, the action force is the rocket pushing downwards on the burning rocket fuel, and the reaction force is the burning rocket fuel pushing upwards on the rocket, propelling it into the air. This is another example of Newton's third law in action.
3. When a car accelerates forward, the action force is the tires pushing backwards on the road, and the reaction force is the road pushing forward on the tires, causing the car to move forward. This demonstrates Newton's third law, as the forces between the car and the road are equal and opposite.
4. When a person walks across a room, the action force is the person pushing backwards on the ground, and the reaction force is the ground pushing forward on the person, propelling them forward. This exemplifies Newton's third law, as the forces between the person and the ground are equal and opposite.