Question

newtons third law states, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. this means that forces in our world come in a pair: the action and the reaction.
we will be investigating newtons third law through paper airplanes in the scenario.
select the sentence that best illustrates an action paired with an equal and opposite reaction

1. the papers on your desk remain on your desk until you pick them up to make a paper airplane. you throw the paper airplane, and it speeds up in the direction you threw it. the airplane is pulled toward the ground by gravity, but the air underneath pushes back on the bottom of the airplane, keeping it airborne. the airplane seems to be traveling well, until it hits a wall that causes it to stop moving.

a. the papers on your desk remain on your desk until you pick them up to make a paper airplane.
b. you throw the paper airplane, and it speeds up in the direction you threw it.
c. the airplane is pulled toward the ground by gravity, but the air underneath pushes back on the bottom of the airplane, keeping it airborne.
d. the airplane seems to be traveling well, until it hits a wall that causes it to stop moving.

Explanation:

• Option A: Only mentions the state of papers on the desk and no action - reaction pair.
• Option B: Focuses on the airplane speeding up due to the throw (action) but no mention of an equal and opposite reaction.
• Option C: Gravity pulling the airplane down (action) and air pushing back on the bottom of the airplane (opposite reaction) which is an action - reaction pair as per Newton's Third Law.
• Option D: Talks about the airplane stopping when hitting a wall (no action - reaction pair in the sense of forces as per the law).

Answer:

C. The airplane is pulled toward the ground by gravity, but the air underneath pushes back on the bottom of the airplane, keeping it airborne.