Newton's Third Law
Part of the Mechanics section of Coddy's Physics journey. Lesson 13 of 97.
Newton's third law: when body A pushes on body B, body B pushes back on A with a force of the same size in the opposite direction.
Same force, different masses: the cart gets the larger acceleration.
The two forces act on different bodies, so they never cancel each other. They can still cause different accelerations, because each body has its own mass.
Two skaters push apart. If the push gives a skater , the same on a skater gives the other way.
Walking works the same way: your foot pushes the ground backward, and the ground pushes you forward.
Challenge
Two skaters push off each other. The push gives the skater an acceleration of . What is the acceleration of the skater ?
Try it yourself
Solve for
This lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.
All lessons in Mechanics
4Inclined Planes
Forces on an InclineGravity ComponentsFrictionless InclineIncline with FrictionWill It Slide?Recap - Ramp Challenge7Projectile Motion
Independent AxesHorizontal LaunchLaunch at an AngleRange and Max HeightRecap - Hit the Target10Work and Energy
WorkKinetic EnergyWork-Energy TheoremGravitational PEConservation of EnergyPowerRecap - Roller Coaster13Impulse and Momentum
MomentumImpulseConservation of MomentumElastic CollisionsInelastic CollisionsRecap - Air Track16Simple Harmonic Motion
What is SHM?Mass on a SpringThe PendulumSHM GraphsEnergy in SHMRecap - Oscillator2Vectors and Newton's Laws
Right TrianglesWhat is a Vector?Adding VectorsAxes and DirectionsVector ComponentsForces Around UsFriction and TensionNewton's First LawNewton's Second LawNewton's Third LawRecap - Net Force