If newton's 3rd law is true how does anything move?


Newton's 3rd law, simply put, is every action has an equal and opposite reaction. This means when you push on an object the object experiences a force (from you) and the object exerts an equal force on you in the opposite direction (to the applied force). The forces don't act on the same object but on different objects so thankfully we don't live in a static universe.

RK
Answered by Roy K. Physics tutor

13419 Views

See similar Physics GCSE tutors

Related Physics GCSE answers

All answers ▸

A ball is dropped from a height of 20m. How long does it take for the ball to reach ground?


Discuss how X-rays and Ultrasound can be used for medical purposes, including their advantages and disadvantages.


What are Newton's 3 laws of motion?


A 15kg cannonball and a 1kg football are dropped to the ground from a height of 10 metres. Calculate the speed of the cannonball and of the football just before they hit the ground (you may ignore air resistance).


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning