Forces - Newtons 3rd law of motion

• Newton's third law of motion

  Whenever two objects interact, the forces they exert on each other are equal and opposite
• Newton's third law of motion

  1. Describe

  2. Understand
• Interaction between objects


  • Man in a canoe pushing on the water, water pushing back on the paddle
  • Skateboarder jumping off a skateboard, skateboard pushing back on the skateboarder
  • Rocket firing, chemical reaction producing downward push force on hot exhaust gases, hot exhaust gases exerting equal upward force on the rocket
  • Car driving, wheel exerting force in reverse direction on the road, road exerting equal forward force on the wheel
• It's quite likely that you have to state the law exactly as stated in the exam
• Newton's third law can seem a bit tricky but you shouldn't get bogged down by it
• You'll find plenty of questions on Newton's third law in the revision workbook