
Newton’s third law states that: for every action force, there is always an equal and opposite reaction force.
(Note that the forces are acting on two different objects)
Here are some examples of newton’s third law in everyday life:
- #1 Equal and opposite force acting on a person swimming in the river
- #2 Equal and opposite force acting on a bird flying in the sky
- #3 Equal and opposite force acting on a boy jumping off the boat
- #4 Equal and opposite force acting on a boy walking on the ground
- #5 Equal and opposite force acting on a rocket taking off from the ground
- #6 Equal and opposite force acting on a recoiling cannon
- #7 Equal and opposite force acting on a fish swimming in the water
- #8 Equal and opposite force acting on a spring pressed by the hand
- #9 Equal and opposite force acting on an opponent’s face in boxing
- #10 Equal and opposite force acting on a boat rowed by an ore
- #11 Equal and opposite force acting on a ball bouncing on the floor
- #12 Equal and opposite force acting on a recoiling gun
- #13 Equal and opposite force acting on the wall pushed by the hand
Let’s one by one discuss the above examples in detail.
#1 Equal and opposite force acting on a person swimming in the river

Newton’s third law says that every action force has an equal and opposite reaction force. Swimmers experience this law while swimming in the river. While swimming in the river, a swimmer pushes the water backward with his hands (which is an action force), and at the same time, the water also pushes a swimmer forward (which is a reaction force).
#2 Equal and opposite force acting on a bird flying in the sky

According to the third law of motion, every action force has an equal and opposite reaction force. Birds experience this law while flying in the air. While flying in the air, a bird’s wings push the air downwards (which is an action force), and at the same time, air also pushes its wings with an equal and opposite force in the upward direction (which is a reaction force).
#3 Equal and opposite force acting on a boy jumping off the boat

Newton’s third law says that every action force has an equal and opposite reaction force. The image shows a boy who experiences this law while jumping off the boat. When a boy jumps off the boat, his leg pushes the boat backward (which is an action force), and at the same time, the boat also exerts an equal and opposite reaction force on a boy’s leg that pushes him forward.
#4 Equal and opposite force acting on a boy walking on the ground

According to the third law of motion, every action force has an equal and opposite reaction force. We experience this law while walking on the ground. While walking on the ground, our legs push the ground backward (which is an action force), and at the same time, the ground also exerts an equal and opposite force on our legs (which is a reaction force).
#5 Equal and opposite force acting on a rocket taking off from the ground

Newton’s third law says that every action force has an equal and opposite reaction force. The image shows a rocket that experiences this law while taking off from the ground. When a rocket takes off from the ground, the exhaust gas from a rocket pushes the ground downwards (which is an action force), and at the same time, the ground also pushes the exhaust gas upwards (which is a reaction force).
#6 Equal and opposite force acting on a recoiling cannon

According to the third law of motion, every action force has an equal and opposite reaction force. The image shows a cannon that experiences this law while releasing a cannonball. When a cannon fires the cannonball, a cannon exerts a forward force on a cannonball (which is an action force), and at the same time, a cannonball also exerts an equal and opposite force back on a cannon (which is a reaction force).
#7 Equal and opposite force acting on a fish swimming in the water

Newton’s third law says that every action force has an equal and opposite reaction force. Fish experience this law while swimming in the water. While swimming in the water, a fish pushes the water backward with its wings (which is an action force), and at the same time, the water also pushes its wings forward (which is a reaction force).
#8 Equal and opposite force acting on a spring pressed by the hand

According to the third law of motion, every action force has an equal and opposite reaction force. We experience this law while pressing a spring with our hands. While pressing a spring, our hands push a spring inward (which is an action force), and at the same time, a spring also pushes our hands with an equal and opposite force outwards (which is a reaction force).
#9 Equal and opposite force acting on an opponent’s face in boxing

Newton’s third law says that every action force has an equal and opposite reaction force. A boxer experiences this law while hitting an opponent’s face in boxing. While hitting an opponent’s face, a boxer uses a fist to hit an opponent’s face (which is an action force), and at the same time, an opponent’s face also hits a boxer’s fist with an equal and opposite force (which is a reaction force).
#10 Equal and opposite force acting on a boat rowed by an ore

According to the third law of motion, every action force has an equal and opposite reaction force. We experience this law while rowing a boat. While rowing a boat, a boat’s ore pushes the water backward (which is an action force), and at the same time, the water also pushes a boat’s ore forward (which is a reaction force).
#11 Equal and opposite force acting on a ball bouncing on the floor

Newton’s third law says that every action force has an equal and opposite reaction force. A ball experiences this law while bouncing on the floor. When the ball bounces on the floor, the ball pushes the floor downwards (which is an action force), and at the same time, the floor also pushes the ball upward (which is a reaction force).
#12 Equal and opposite force acting on a recoiling gun

According to the third law of motion, every action force has an equal and opposite reaction force. The image shows the gun that experiences this law while releasing a bullet. When the gun releases a bullet, the gun exerts a forward force on a bullet (which is an action force), and at the same time, a bullet also exerts an equal and opposite force on the gun (which is a reaction force).
#13 Equal and opposite force acting on the wall pushed by the hand

Newton’s third law says that every action force has an equal and opposite reaction force. We experience this law while pushing the wall by the hands. While pushing the wall, our hands push the wall inward (which is an action force), and at the same time, the wall also pushes our hands with an equal and opposite force outwards (which is a reaction force).
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