Q17CQ - College Physics (Urone)

Question

Describe a situation in which one system exerts a force on another and, as a consequence, experiences a force that is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. Which of Newton’s laws of motion apply?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The firing of a bullet through a rifle is an example where Newton’s Third Law of Motion comes into the picture.

Step 1: Concept of Newton’s third law of motion

Newton’s Third Law of Motion states that whenever a body exerts a force on another body, the first body experiences a force that is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the force that it exerts.

Step 2: Situation where Newton’s Third Law of Motion comes into action

Take the case of firing through a rifle. When the bullet is fired, the rifle pushes forward on the bullet through a gunpowder explosion. As the rifle pushes the bullet, the bullet pushes backward upon the rifle. So, the bullet and the rifle form an action-reaction pair.

In the above case, the force exerted by the rifle on the bullet is exerted back by the bullet, which is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction.