10+ Interesting Examples of Newton’s third law of motion

Here are 10+ interesting examples of Newton’s Third Law of Motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction:

Newton’s Third laws of motion examples.

Jumping off a Boat: When you jump off a boat, the boat moves backward. Your action of jumping forward pushes the boat in the opposite direction.
Walking: As you push your feet backward against the ground, the ground pushes you forward. This is why you can walk.
Rowing a Boat: When you push the water backward with an oar, the boat moves forward. The action of the oar pushing against the water results in the boat moving in the opposite direction.
Recoil of a Gun: When a gun fires a bullet, the bullet is pushed forward, and the gun moves backward. The bullet’s forward motion is the reaction to the action of the expanding gases in the barrel.
Helicopter Taking Off: The helicopter blades push air downward (action), and as a result, the helicopter is lifted upward (reaction).
Kicking a Ball: When you kick a ball, your foot pushes the ball forward, and the ball pushes your foot back with equal force.
Swimming: When swimmers push water backward with their hands and legs, the water pushes them forward, helping them move through the water.
Walking on Ice: When you push your feet against the slippery ice, the ice pushes back with equal force, but since there is less friction, it’s harder to move forward.
Launching a Rocket: When a rocket’s engines expel gas downward, the rocket moves upward. The action of gas being pushed down results in the reaction of the rocket being propelled upward.
Jumping off a Swing: When you push against the seat of the swing to jump off, the swing moves backward. Your push on the swing creates an opposite reaction.
Paddle Boat: When a person uses a paddle to push water backward, the boat moves forward. The action of the paddle pushing water results in the boat moving in the opposite direction.
Recoil of a Cannon: When a cannon fires a cannonball, the cannon moves backward, just as the cannonball moves forward with equal force.

These examples show how Newton’s Third Law is constantly at play in everyday life, from simple movements like walking to complex systems like rocket launches.

Certainly! Let’s dive deeper into the examples of Newton’s Third Law of Motion, which states: “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” This law means that when one object exerts a force on another, the second object exerts a force of equal magnitude but in the opposite direction on the first object. Here are the detailed explanations for the examples provided earlier:

1. Jumping off a Boat:

Action: When you push yourself off the boat, you exert a force on the boat.
Reaction: In response, the boat moves in the opposite direction. The boat moves backward because the force you apply to push yourself forward is countered by an equal force that moves the boat in the opposite direction. This is why you notice the boat drifting when you jump off of it.

2. Walking:

Action: When you take a step, your foot pushes backward against the ground.
Reaction: The ground pushes forward with an equal force, propelling your body forward. This reaction is what allows you to move forward when you walk. The force that you exert on the ground is counteracted by the equal and opposite reaction force that moves you forward.

3. Rowing a Boat:

Action: When you push an oar backward through the water, you exert a force on the water.
Reaction: The water exerts an equal and opposite force on the oar, which in turn moves the boat forward. Essentially, you’re pushing water back, and the boat moves forward as a result of the water’s reaction force.

4. Recoil of a Gun:

Action: When a gun is fired, the gunpowder ignites, creating a high-pressure force that propels the bullet forward out of the barrel.
Reaction: The gun experiences an equal and opposite force, causing it to move backward, a phenomenon known as recoil. The action of pushing the bullet forward results in the reaction of pushing the gun backward.

5. Helicopter Taking Off:

Action: The helicopter blades push air downward by rotating rapidly.
Reaction: As a result of pushing the air downward, the reaction force pushes the helicopter upward, lifting it off the ground. The action of air being pushed down results in the upward movement of the helicopter, which is what allows it to take off.

6. Kicking a Ball:

Action: When you kick a ball, you apply a force to the ball in a forward direction.
Reaction: The ball applies an equal and opposite force to your foot. The forward motion of the ball is the result of your foot’s action on it, and the force the ball exerts on your foot can make your foot feel a push backward.

7. Swimming:

Action: Swimmers push water backward with their hands and legs while swimming.
Reaction: The water pushes the swimmer forward with an equal force. This backward push against the water generates a forward motion for the swimmer, which allows them to propel through the water.

8. Walking on Ice:

Action: When you push against the icy surface with your feet, you exert a force on the ice.
Reaction: The ice pushes back with an equal force, but because there is much less friction on the ice compared to a regular surface, it’s harder for you to move forward. The lack of friction makes it difficult to take steps, which is why walking on ice can be so slippery.

9. Launching a Rocket:

Action: When a rocket’s engines fire, they expel gas at high velocity downward.
Reaction: The expelled gas exerts an equal and opposite force on the rocket, propelling it upward into space. The rocket moves upward because the action of the gases being pushed down creates a reaction force that pushes the rocket in the opposite direction.

10. Jumping off a Swing:

Action: When you push against the seat of the swing to jump off, you apply a force to the swing.
Reaction: The swing exerts an equal and opposite force back on you, and this results in the swing moving backward while you move forward. The action of pushing off creates the reaction of the swing moving in the opposite direction.

11. Paddle Boat:

Action: In a paddle boat, when the paddles push water backward, they exert a force on the water.
Reaction: The water pushes the boat forward with an equal and opposite force. This is what moves the boat through the water as the paddles push against the water.

12. Recoil of a Cannon:

Action: When a cannon fires a cannonball, the cannonball is pushed forward by the expanding gases from the gunpowder explosion.
Reaction: The cannon experiences an equal and opposite force, causing the cannon to move backward. This recoil is much more noticeable because the cannon is much heavier than the cannonball.

Key Concept:

In all these examples, Newton’s Third Law shows that forces always occur in pairs. The action force exerted by an object (e.g., pushing a ball, firing a gun, etc.) is always met with an equal and opposite reaction force (e.g., the ball pushes back on your foot, the gun moves backward). This law explains why movement and interactions between objects always involve two forces that are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction.

Why is this Important?

Newton’s Third Law is essential for understanding how objects interact in our universe. It governs everything from simple actions like walking to complex systems like rocket launches. It helps explain why things move, how forces balance, and how energy is transferred.