Consider the following debate between two students about their answer to the pre
ID: 1359155 • Letter: C
Question
Consider the following debate between two students about their answer to the previous question.
Student 1: I thought that whenever one object exerts a force on a second object, the second object also exerts a force that is equal in strength, but in the other direction. So even though Earth is bigger, and more massive than the Moon they still pull on each other with a gravitational force of the same strength just in different directions.
Student 2: I disagree. I said that Earth exerts the stronger force because it is way bigger than the Moon. Because its mass is bigger the gravitational force Earth exerts has to be bigger too. I think you are confusing Newton’s 3rd law with the law of gravity.
Do you agree or disagree with either or both of the students? Why?
Explanation / Answer
According to the Newton's third law of motion for any action force there will be an opposite reaction force. the magnitudes of the action and reaction forces are equal, but direction is opposite to each other. The action and reaction forces on two different bodies.
The force of atraction (action) of Earth on Moon is equal to the force of attraction (reaction) of Moon on Earth. the direction of these two forces is opposite to each other.
Thus, the student 1 statement is correct.