Understanding that when a person exerts a force on the road to start walking, the road exerts an equal and opposite force on the person’s feet demonstrates Newton’s third law of motion. The reactive force from the road allows the person to move forward, illustrating the balance of action and reaction forces according to Newton’s third law.
How does understanding the interaction between a person and the road demonstrate Newton’s third law of motion?
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Understanding the interaction between a person and the road illustrates Newton’s Third Law of Motion through the principle of action and reaction forces. As the person exerts a backward force on the road (action), the road responds with an equal and opposite force in the forward direction (reaction). This reciprocal force pair enables the person to overcome static friction and initiate forward motion. The interaction showcases the law’s fundamental concept that every force has an equal and opposite counterpart. In this case, the action of the foot pushing backward results in the reaction force from the road, facilitating movement according to Newton’s Third Law.