Action and Reaction: Newton’s Third Law (updated)

Newton's third law of motion, often referred to as the Law of action and reaction, states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When an object exerts a force on another object, the second object exerts an equal and opposite force back. This principle is demonstrated in various scenarios, such as rockets needing to overcome Earth's gravity by expelling gas downwards, which in turn pushes the rocket upwards. Another example is seen in jumping, where the force exerted by Joan's legs on the ground results in an equal force pushing her up. The same concept applies in swimming, where the effort put into pushing water dictates the swimmer’s speed and distance traveled. Examples like these illustrate how Newton's third law operates in everyday life.