Activity Sheet 5.

11
Action-Reaction

Purpose

State Newton’s 3rd law of motion.

Materials: 2 spring balances, string

Procedure

A. Connect 2 spring balances with their hooks. Ask your partner to hold one
end of the balance, while you hold the other end horizontally. Pull the
spring balance while your partner just hold the other end. Observe the
reading on each balance.

Q1. What is the reading on your balance and that of your partner? What
do these values represent?

Q2. How do you compare the direction of your partner’s and your forces?

B. Pull the spring balance harder. Be careful that you do not exceed the
maximum reading on the spring balance.

Q3. What is the reading on your balance and that of your partner?

Q4. How do you explain your observation?

C. Attach one end of your spring balance to the wall, while the other end is
connected to the second spring balance. Ask your partner to pull the spring
balance. Observe the reading on each balance.

Q5. What is the reading in each balance?

Q6. Compare the two readings.

Q7. Compare the direction of the forces exerted on the two ends of the
connected spring balance.

Q8. Do the two forces exerted on each end of the two spring balance cancel
each other?

Generalization

How do you describe the interacting forces in terms of magnitude and

direction?

Unit 5- Energy in Transportation Activity 5.11 – Action-Reaction V-15