Action and Reaction

Newton’s third law states::

“For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.”

This means that if you push or pull something, that object pushes or pulls back on you with an equal force in the opposite direction. This law is present in every step of life—literally! For example, when you walk, you push against the ground with your weight, and the ground pushes back on you, allowing you to move forward.

Try It

You’ll need a rubber band, which you can find in the kit. Stretch it between your fingers and release one end so it snaps. When you let go of the rubber band (action), it moves back to its original position and further in the opposite direction (reaction).

Explore everyday scenarios where you can observe Newton’s third law in action.

Practical Examples

When you throw a ball at a wall (action)

the ball bounces back (reaction)

When a boxer punches a punching bag, their fist pushes the bag forward (action)

and the bag pushes the fist back (reaction)

When you jump on a trampoline and push it downward (action)

the trampoline pushes you back upward (reaction), propelling you into the air

Newton’s third law shows that for every force we apply to an object, there is an equal and opposite force that the object applies back. This can be observed in many daily situations, from walking to the launch of a rocket.

Ancient Catapult

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Try It

Practical Examples