Why action and reaction do not cancel out each other?
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Solution
Newton's third law:
Newton's third law describes the relationship between the forces of interaction between two objects.
Whenever two bodies interact with each other, the force exerted by the first body on the second is called action. The force exerted by the second body on the first body is called reaction. The action and reaction are equal and opposite.
The law states that ‘To every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction’. when one object exerts a force on another object, instantaneously the second object exerts a force back on the first object. These two forces are always equal in magnitude, but opposite in direction.
Application of the law:
1. A gun recoils when a bullet is fired from it: When a bullet is fired from a gun, the gun exerts a force on the bullet in the forward direction, which is an active force. The bullet also exerts an equal force on the gun in the backward direction, that is, recoiling of a gun is a reaction force.
2. We move forward while swimming: Forceapplied by the swimmer on the water is an action force, while water pushes the body of the swimmer in the forward direction represents a reaction force.
3. Rocket moves upward by the action of gases expelled at high force: When the rocket engine is ignited, gases are expelled at high force to the ground, which represents the action. As a result, the pushing of the rocket in the upwards direction represents a reaction.
Explanation:
When two equal forces act on the same object in opposite directions they get canceled. Even though action and reactions are two equal forces in the opposite directions they act on different bodies, therefore they do not get canceled.
For instance, when a bird flies, the wings of the bird push air downwards, this is an action force. The air pushing the bird upwards is a reaction force. The downward force of wings is on air and the upward force of air is on wings which are different objects in opposite directions under equal force.
