High School Physics : Understanding Newton's Third Law

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Physics

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Understanding Newton's Third Law

If a tennis ball hits a racket with \(\displaystyle 40N\) of force, what is the force of the racket on the ball?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 20N\)

\(\displaystyle -20N\)

\(\displaystyle 0N\)

\(\displaystyle 40N\)

\(\displaystyle -40N\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -40N\)

Explanation:

Newton's third law states that every force has an equal and opposite force.

That means that \(\displaystyle F_{ball}=-F_{racket}\). Since the force of the ball equals \(\displaystyle 40N\), the force of the racket must be equal and opposite.

\(\displaystyle 40N=-F_{racket}\)

\(\displaystyle -40N=F_{racket}\).

Remember, this force will be negative as it is equal and OPPOSITE. That means it is moving in the opposite direction.

Example Question #1 : Understanding Newton's Third Law

A bat hits a baseball with \(\displaystyle 1800N\) of force. How much force does the baseball exert on the bat?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -183.67N\)

\(\displaystyle -1800N\)

\(\displaystyle -42.43N\)

\(\displaystyle -9.8N\)

\(\displaystyle -900N\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -1800N\)

Explanation:

Newton's third law states that when object A exerts a force on object B, object B exerts a force equal in magnitude but opposite in direction on object A.

That means that if the force of the bat on the ball is \(\displaystyle 1800N\), then the ball on the bat must be \(\displaystyle -1800N\).

Example Question #2 : Understanding Newton's Third Law

A hammer strikes a nail with \(\displaystyle F\) newtons of force. How much force does the nail exert on the hammer?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 0N\)

\(\displaystyle F\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}F\)

\(\displaystyle 2F\)

\(\displaystyle -F\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -F\)

Explanation:

Newton's third law states that for every force, there is an equal and opposite force. The force of the hammer on the nail will be equal in magnitude, but opposite in direction, to the force of the nail on the hammer.

Mathematically, that would mean \(\displaystyle F_{hammer}=-F_{nail}\).

The nail would exert \(\displaystyle -F\) force on the hammer.

Example Question #321 : High School Physics

Two skaters push off of each other in the middle of an ice rink. If one skater has a mass of \(\displaystyle 32kg\) and an acceleration of \(\displaystyle 0.5\frac{m}{s^2}\), what is the mass of the other skater if her acceleration is \(\displaystyle -1.2\frac{m}{s^2}\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 19.2kg\)

\(\displaystyle -13.33kg\)

\(\displaystyle 12kg\)

\(\displaystyle 1.2kg\)

\(\displaystyle 13.33kg\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 13.33kg\)

Explanation:

For this problem, we'll use Newton's third law, which states that for every force there will be another force equal in magnitude, but opposite in direction.

This means that the force of the first skater on the second will be equal in magnitude, but opposite in direction:

\(\displaystyle F_1=-F_2\)

Use Newton's second law to expand this equation.

\(\displaystyle m_1a_1=-(m_2a_2)\)

We are given the acceleration of each skater and the mass of the first. Using these values, we can solve for the mass of the second.

\(\displaystyle 32kg*0.5\frac{m}{s^2}=-(m_2*-1.2\frac{m}{s^2})\)

Notice that the acceleration of the second skater is negative. Since she is moving in the opposite direction of the first skater, one acceleration will be positive while the other will be negative as acceleration is a vector. From here, we need to isolate the mass of the second skater.

\(\displaystyle 16N=-(m_2*-1.2\frac{m}{s^2})\)

\(\displaystyle -16N=(m_2*-1.2\frac{m}{s^2})\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{-16N}{-1.2\frac{m}{s^2}}=m_2\)

\(\displaystyle 13.33kg=m_2\)

Example Question #1 : Understanding Newton's Third Law

Two skaters push off of each other in the middle of an ice rink. If one skater has a mass of \(\displaystyle 32kg\) and an acceleration of \(\displaystyle 0.5\frac{m}{s^2}\), what is the acceleration of the other skater if her mass is \(\displaystyle 17kg\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 0.94\frac{m}{s^2}\)

\(\displaystyle -9.4\frac{m}{s^2}\)

\(\displaystyle -0.94\frac{m}{s^2}\)

\(\displaystyle -0.59\frac{m}{s^2}\)

\(\displaystyle 1.88\frac{m}{s^2}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -0.94\frac{m}{s^2}\)

Explanation:

For this problem, we'll use Newton's third law, which states that for every force there will be another force equal in magnitude, but opposite in direction.

This means that the force of the first skater on the second will be equal in magnitude, but opposite in direction:

\(\displaystyle F_1=-F_2\)

Use Newton's second law to expand this equation.

\(\displaystyle m_1a_1=-(m_2a_2)\)

We are given the mass of each skater and the acceleration of the first. Using these values, we can solve for the acceleration of the second.

\(\displaystyle 32kg*0.5\frac{m}{s^2}=-(17kg*a_2)\)

From here, we need to isolate the acceleration of the second skater.

\(\displaystyle 32kg*0.5\frac{m}{s^2}=-(17kg*a_2)\)

\(\displaystyle 16N=-(17kg*a_2)\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{16N}{17kg}=-a_2\)

\(\displaystyle 0.94\frac{m}{s^2}=-a_2\)

\(\displaystyle -0.94\frac{m}{s^2}=a_2\)

Notice that the acceleration of the second skater is negative. Since she is moving in the opposite direction of the first skater, one acceleration will be positive while the other will be negative as acceleration is a vector.

Example Question #4 : Understanding Newton's Third Law

A rock strikes a window with \(\displaystyle 80N\) of force. How much force does that window exert on the rock?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 80N\)

\(\displaystyle 0N\)

We need to know the mass of the rock to solve

We need to know how long the two were in contact to solve

\(\displaystyle -80N\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -80N\)

Explanation:

Newton's third law states that when one body exerts a force on another body, the second body exerts a force equal in magnitude, but opposite in direction, on the first body.

Mathematically, this process can be written as:

\(\displaystyle F_1=-F_2\)

Since the rock exerts \(\displaystyle 80N\) of force on the window, then the window must exert \(\displaystyle -80N\)of force on the rock.

Example Question #1 : Understanding Newton's Third Law

A boy falls out of a tree and hits the ground with \(\displaystyle -78.2N\) of force. How much force does the ground exert on the boy?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 8N\)

\(\displaystyle -78.2N\)

We must know the mass of the boy to solve

\(\displaystyle 78.2N\)

\(\displaystyle 0N\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 78.2N\)

Explanation:

Newton's third law states that when one object exerts a force on another object, that second object exerts a force of equal magnitude, but opposite in direction on the first.

That means that:

\(\displaystyle F_1=-F_2\)

Using the value from the question, we can find the force of the ground on the boy.

\(\displaystyle -78.2N=-F_2\)

\(\displaystyle 78.2N=F_2\)

Example Question #2 : Understanding Newton's Third Law

A hunter fires a rifle. The rifle kicks back with \(\displaystyle -350N\) of force. How much force does the hunter's shoulder exert on the rifle during kick back?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 0N\)

We don't have enough information to solve.

\(\displaystyle 350N\)

\(\displaystyle 175N\)

\(\displaystyle 18N\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 350N\)

Explanation:

If the rifle exerts a force of \(\displaystyle -350N\) on the hunter's shoulder, then the hunter's shoulder will exert \(\displaystyle 350N\) of force on the rifle.

This is because of Newton's third law, which states that when one object exerts a force upon another object, the second object exerts a force equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the first force. Mathematically that means \(\displaystyle F_a=-F_b\). Since our first force was \(\displaystyle -350N\), the second force will be \(\displaystyle 350N\).

\(\displaystyle -350N=-F_b\rightarrow F_b=350N\)

Example Question #1 : Understanding Newton's Third Law

Which of Newton's laws explains why it is easy for you to lift a 1L jug of milk from the fridge, but impossible to lift a 1000L jug?

Possible Answers:

More than one of these

Newton's first law

Newton's second law

Newton's third law

None of these

Correct answer:

More than one of these

Explanation:

The answer is more than one. The two laws that come into play are Newton's first and second laws. Newton's first law is best known as the law of inertia. It states that an object in motion will stay in motion and an object at rest will stay at rest unless acted on by an outside force. Newton's second law relates the acceleration of an object to the mass and the forces acting on it with the equation \(\displaystyle F=ma\). An object won't move or stop moving unless the forces acting on it are imbalanced. In the case of the milk jug, it remained at rest until an outside force, your hand, acted upon it, demonstrating Newton's first law. The second law is applicable because the amount of acceleration of the two milk jugs is inversely related to their mass. It takes a much stronger force to move the 1000L milk jug than it does the 1L milk jug. The acceleration is also much smaller for the two objects when the same force is applied because one weighs so much more than the other. You can visualize this by rearranging the second law equation: \(\displaystyle a=\frac{F}{m}\) . It is also beneficial to think in terms of two objects. Which is will accelerate more when you try and move it with the same force, a tennis ball or an elephant?

Example Question #332 : High School Physics

Two skaters push off of each other in the middle of an ice rink. If one skater has a mass of \(\displaystyle 32kg\) and an acceleration of \(\displaystyle 0.5m/s^2\), what is the mass of the other skater if her acceleration is \(\displaystyle -1.2m/s^2\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 1.2kg\)

\(\displaystyle 13.33kg\)

\(\displaystyle 12kg\)

\(\displaystyle -13.33kg\)

\(\displaystyle 19.2kg\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 13.33kg\)

Explanation:

For this problem, we'll use Newton's third law, which states that for every force there will be another force equal in magnitude, but opposite in direction.

 

This means that the force of the first skater on the second will be equal in magnitude, but opposite in direction:

 

\(\displaystyle F_1=-F_2\)

 

Use Newton's second law to expand this equation.

 

\(\displaystyle m_1a_1=-(m_2a_2)\)

 

We are given the acceleration of each skater and the mass of the first. Using these values, we can solve for the mass of the second.

 

\(\displaystyle 32kg*0.5ms2=-(m_2*-1.2m/s^2)\)

 

Notice that the acceleration of the second skater is negative. Since she is moving in the opposite direction of the first skater, one acceleration will be positive while the other will be negative as acceleration is a vector. From here, we need to isolate the mass of the second skater.

 

\(\displaystyle 16N=-(m_2*-1.2m/s^2)\)

 

\(\displaystyle -16N=(m2*-1.2m/s^2)\)

 

\(\displaystyle -16N/(-1.2m/s^2)=m_2\)


\(\displaystyle 13.33kg=m_2\)

 

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors