Which of Newton's laws states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction?

• A. First Law
• B. Second Law
• C. Third Law
• D. Law of Universal Gravitation

Answer: (C)

The statement "for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction" is a direct expression of Newton's Third Law of Motion. This law explains how forces interact between objects. When one object exerts a force on a second object, the second object exerts a force of equal magnitude but in the opposite direction back on the first object.

This principle is fundamental in understanding concepts such as propulsion in space travel, where rockets push exhaust gases out in one direction, and as a result, the rocket moves in the opposite direction. It emphasizes the interaction between objects and illustrates that forces are mutual.

The First Law of Motion states that an object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by a net external force, while the Second Law specifically relates force, mass, and acceleration, defining how mass impacts the acceleration given to an object when a force is applied. The Law of Universal Gravitation deals with the attraction between two masses and does not describe the interaction of forces as Newton's Third Law does.