What does Newton's Third Law state?

Newton's Third Law of Motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This principle highlights the interaction between two objects when forces are applied. When one object exerts a force on a second object, the second object exerts a force of equal magnitude and in the opposite direction back onto the first object. This law explains many phenomena in everyday life, such as why pushing against a wall does not move the wall; the wall pushes back with an equal force.

Understanding this law is crucial in fields such as physics and engineering, as it helps explain how forces work in various scenarios, from the locomotion of rockets to the way animals move. Newton's Third Law emphasizes the mutual interactions between forces and is foundational to the study of mechanics.