Which principle states that when one object exerts a force on a second object, the second object exerts an equal force on the first object in the opposite direction?

Which principle states that when one object exerts a force on a second object, the second object exerts an equal force on the first object in the opposite direction?

• A. Newton's First Law
• B. Newton's Second Law
• C. Newton's Third Law
• D. Law of Gravity

Answer: (C)

This is Newton's Third Law. The idea is that forces come in equal-strength, opposite-direction pairs that act on two different objects. When one object pushes on another, the second pushes back with the same amount of force in the opposite direction. This is why, for example, pushing against a wall or launching off a boat creates a reverse push on the original object as well. The other laws describe different ideas: inertia (an object’s resistance to motion change) and how net force relates to acceleration, while gravity is about mutual attraction between masses, not the general rule about action-reaction forces.

This is Newton's Third Law. The idea is that forces come in equal-strength, opposite-direction pairs that act on two different objects. When one object pushes on another, the second pushes back with the same amount of force in the opposite direction. This is why, for example, pushing against a wall or launching off a boat creates a reverse push on the original object as well. The other laws describe different ideas: inertia (an object’s resistance to motion change) and how net force relates to acceleration, while gravity is about mutual attraction between masses, not the general rule about action-reaction forces.