Final answer:
Newton's first law describes continuous motion or rest absent an external force; the second law relates force to mass and acceleration; and the third law reveals that every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Newtons first law, often called the law of inertia, tells us that an object will remain at rest or in uniform motion in a straight line unless acted upon by an external force. It highlights the concept of momentum and suggests that without external influences, the momentum of an object remains constant. In real-world terms, this is why a rolling ball on the ground eventually stops; not because it violates the first law, but because external forces such as friction and air resistance act on it. Newtons second law establishes the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration. It states that the force applied to an object is equal to the mass of that object multiplied by the acceleration produced. This law provides a calculable way to determine how changes in mass and acceleration influence an object’s motion. For instance, pushing a car (a massive object) will require much more force to achieve the same acceleration as pushing a skateboard. Newtons third law introduces the concept that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This means that forces always occur in pairs, and when one body exerts a force on another, the second body simultaneously exerts a force equal in magnitude and opposite in direction on the first body. This law is exemplified when a swimmer pushes against the water to move forward; the water pushes back with equal force, propelling the swimmer.