LAW OF

INTERACTION
Learning Team 2
 LAW OF INTERACTION
Forces always occur in pairs, and one
body cannot exert a force on another
without experiencing a force itself.
When you sit in your chair, your body
exerts a downward force on the chair
and the chair exerts an upward force on
your body.
There are two forces resulting from this
interaction - a force on the chair and a
force on your body. These two forces
are called action and reaction forces.
 LAW OF INTERACTION
also known as Newton's third law of motion.
states that, “for every action, there is an equal and opposite
reaction.”
If an object A exerts a force on object B, then object B must exert
a force of equal magnitude and opposite direction back on object A.
_
FAB = FAB
Force can be classified into two categories
1. Contact force 2. Non-contact force
-such as frictional force -such as gravitational force.
EXAMPLE
 INTERACTION FORCE PAIRS
Consider the propulsion of a fish through the water. A fish uses its fins
to push water backwards. But a push on the water will only serve to
accelerate the water. Since forces result from mutual interactions, the
water must also be pushing the fish forwards, propelling the fish
through the water.

Reaction Force exerted by

the water on the fish

Action Force exerted by

the fish on the water
 INTERACTION FORCE PAIRS
A bird flies by use of its wings. The wings of a bird push air
downwards. Since forces result from mutual interactions, the air
must also be pushing the bird upwards.

Reaction: Air pushes UP on

wing with an EQUAL Force

Action: Wing pushes DOWN

on air with some Force
 INTERACTION FORCE PAIRS
A car is equipped with wheels that spin. As the wheels spin, they grip
the road and push the road backwards. Since forces result from mutual
interactions, the road must also be pushing the wheels forward.

Force from the road

on the car

Force from the car on the road

 SAMPLE PROBLEM
An astronaut weighs 931 N here on Earth.
(a) What is his mass on Earth?
(b) What is his mass on the surface of the moon
(c) What is his weight on the surface of the moon?
(Hint: The acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the
moon is 1.62 m/s².)
 SAMPLE PROBLEM
At a roller skating rink, a girl pushes a boy, causing the
boy to accelerate at 1.50 m/s² to the right. The masses of
the boy and the girl are 60.0 kg and 50.0 kg, respectively.

(a) Find the force exerted by the girl on the boy.

(b) Find the force exerted by the boy on the girl.
(c) Find the acceleration of the girl.
 TRY THIS!
ABCDEF and LMNOP of mases 40 kg and 50 kg,
respectively, are standing on a very slippery surface.
LMNOP pushes ABCDEF to the left with a force of 100
N. Find
(a) the acceleration of ABCDEF,
(6) the force that ABCDEF exerts on LMNOP, and
(c) the acceleration of LMNOP.
THANK YOU!