Question

When the air is released from a balloon, the air moves out one end and the balloon moves in the other direction. Which statement does this situation best illustrate?

a) What goes up must come down.
b) For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
c) The shape and size of an object affect air resistance.
d) The acceleration due to Earth’s gravity is 9.8 m/s²

Answer 1

The air moving out of a balloon and causing the balloon to move in the opposite direction illustrates Newton's Third Law of Motion, not the effects of gravity.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the air is released from a balloon, the air moves out one end and the balloon moves in the other direction. This situation best illustrates the statement: 'For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.' This is Newton's Third Law of Motion, which is a fundamental principle in physics explaining how forces work in pairs. This law is not to be confused with the effects of gravity, which determines that objects fall toward the Earth with a uniform acceleration of 9.8 m/s² when air resistance is negligible.