Question

Two blocks of unequal masses are tied by a spring. The blocks are pulled stretching the spring slightly and the system is released on a frictionless horizontal platform. Are the forces due to the spring on the two blocks equal and opposite? Is it an example of Newton's third law?

• A. Yes, No
• B. Yes, Yes,
• C. No, No
• D. No, Yes

Answer 1

The correct option is A

Yes, No

When the spring is stretched, the force it applies on A and B will be equal and opposite. But the action-reaction pair is the force on A by the spring and the force on the spring by A. Similarly, the force on B by the spring and the force on the spring by B constitute another action-reaction pair.