Question

examining action/reaction forces
consider the diver and the diving board.
which object exerts the action force?
which object exerts the reaction force?
in what direction does the action force push?
in what direction does the reaction force push?

Explanation:

To solve the problem about action - reaction forces between the diver and the diving board, we use Newton's Third Law of Motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

1. Which object exerts the action force?

The diver exerts a force on the diving board (pushing down on it). So the object that exerts the action force is the diver.

2. Which object exerts the reaction force?

According to Newton's Third Law, the diving board will exert a force back on the diver. So the object that exerts the reaction force is the diving board.

3. In what direction does the action force push?

The diver pushes the diving board downwards. So the action force (exerted by the diver on the board) pushes in the downward direction.

4. In what direction does the reaction force push?

Since the reaction force is equal and opposite to the action force, and the action force is downward, the reaction force (exerted by the board on the diver) pushes in the upward direction.

Answer:

s:

• Which object exerts the action force? The diver.
• Which object exerts the reaction force? The diving board.
• In what direction does the action force push? Downward.
• In what direction does the reaction force push? Upward.