Question

newtons third law of motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. it is also called the law of action - reaction.
an action force is a force acting in a specific direction. a reaction force is a force acting in the opposite direction as another force.
action - reaction forces act in pairs and are equal and opposite.
when a baseball pitcher throws the ball at the catcher, the ball is stopped by the catchers glove. the action is the ball being thrown into the glove and the reaction is the glove pushing back on the ball.
choose the correct answer
when a baseball hits a baseball glove, what is the reaction force that occurs?
the glove pushes against the ball.
the ball falls to the ground.
the ball pushes onto the glove.

Explanation:

To solve this, we use Newton's Third Law (action - reaction pairs, equal and opposite forces). The action is the baseball hitting the glove (the ball pushing the glove). The reaction should be the glove pushing back on the ball.

• The option "The ball falls to the ground" is about gravity, not action - reaction from the hit.
• "The ball pushes onto the glove" is the action, not the reaction.
• "The glove pushes against the ball" is the reaction force as it's the opposite and equal force to the ball hitting the glove.

Answer:

The glove pushes against the ball.