Newton's Third Law of Motion

The third law of motion states that if a body exerts a force on a second body, the second body exerts a force that is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the first force. So for every action force there is always a reaction force. No force can occur by itself

The book lying on the table is exerting a downward force on the table, while the table is exerting an upward reaction force on the book. Because the forces are equal and opposite, the book remains at rest. Notice also that the table legs are in contact with the floor and exert a force downward on it, while the floor in turn exerts an equal and opposite force upward.

Questions for you to consider:

1. If forces are always equal and opposite in action and reaction, how is it possible for an object to accelerate?
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2. Explain, in detail, using the third law of motion, how a person is able to walk forward.
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3. There is a classic problem that physicists like to ask students. A horse is pulling a carriage on a level ground. The horse knows the third law of motion. He tells the carriage that he will exert a force forward, and the carriage will exert a force equal to the horse's force but in opposite directions. Therefore, the horse explained, he can never pull the carriage forward. Can you explain to the horse that he is mistaken? How is he able to pull the carriage forward?
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