Newton’s Third Newton’s Third Law NotesLaw Notes

For every action there is an For every action there is an opposite, but equal reaction…opposite, but equal reaction…

TEKS 8.6C investigate and describe applications of Newton’s law of inertia, law of force and acceleration, and law of action-reaction such as in vehicle restraints, sports activities, amusement park rides, Earth’s tectonic activities, and rocket launches

Newton’s third Newton’s third law states that law states that for every for every actionaction there is always there is always an an oppositeopposite, but , but equal equal reactionreaction. .

This means that This means that when you push on an when you push on an object, it object, it pushespushes backback on you with on you with equal forceequal force..

Observe the Observe the person pushing person pushing the ball in the the ball in the picture. picture.

The person is The person is pushing on the ball, pushing on the ball, but the ball is but the ball is pushing backpushing back on the on the person. person.

The reaction is The reaction is NOT the ball NOT the ball

moving forwardmoving forward (The ball moving (The ball moving forward is forward is cause cause

and effectand effect) )

Action: person Action: person pushing ballpushing ballReaction: ball Reaction: ball pushes backpushes back on on person person

See if you can See if you can identify the opposite identify the opposite reaction in each of reaction in each of the pictures! Draw the pictures! Draw arrows to show the arrows to show the

direction of the action direction of the action and opposite reaction. and opposite reaction.

Fist hits wall.

a. wall hits fist

b. ball bumps head

Head bumps ball.

Hand touches globe.

c. globe touches hand

Boy kicks ball.

d. ball kicks boy

Athlete pushes bar up.

e. bar pushes down on athlete

Ball hits bat.

f. bat hits ball

Windshield hits bug.

g. bug hits windshield

Finger touches nose.

h. nose touches finger