Question

Which of Newton's laws could we have used to predict that the forces in parts a and b are equal and opposite?

1) First law of motion
2) Second law of motion
3) Third law of motion
4) Cannot be determined

Answer 1

The prediction that forces are equal and opposite is based on Newton's third law of motion, which is about action-reaction pairs.

Step-by-step explanation:

To predict that the forces in parts a and b are equal and opposite, we would use Newton's third law of motion. This law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In other words, whenever one body exerts a force on a second body, the first body experiences a force that is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the force that it exerts.