Newtons 3rd law help

do the forces have to be equal? as in a mark scheme it said 'due to N3 the support exerts an opposite force on man', 'this force is a resultant force on man'.

Reply 1

uberteknik

Original post by ben288888

do the forces have to be equal? as in a mark scheme it said 'due to N3 the support exerts an opposite force on man', 'this force is a resultant force on man'.

Action and reaction are always equal and opposite.

Reply 2

ben288888

Original post by uberteknik

Action and reaction are always equal and opposite.

how is there a resultant force if they are equal and opposite?

Reply 3

trinau

there is no resultant force

Reply 4

uberteknik

Original post by ben288888

how is there a resultant force if they are equal and opposite?

Examples:

One object is fixed and immovable while the other exerts a force against it. The fixed object stays put, the free object accelerates in the direction of the reaction force.

Two free objects of the same mass and one exerts a force on the other, both will accelerate at the same rate in opposite directions.

Reply 5

RogerOxon

Original post by ben288888

how is there a resultant force if they are equal and opposite?

The forces are on differing objects.

Take the example on a person standing on a floor. The floor exerts an upwards force on them equal in magnitude to their weight. They exert an opposite force on the floor.

Imagine two people standing on ice. What happens if one pushes the other? They both move, but only one pushed.

(edited 5 years ago)

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Newtons 3rd law help

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