Back in secondary school as a science student, one of the easiest laws to memorize and recite was Newton’s Third Law of Motion: “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” It was short, straightforward, and kind of catchy!
Once upon a time, in a bustling city, there lived a young inventor named Siri. Siri had been working tirelessly on a flying machine but ran into a major problem—no matter how hard he tried, the machine simply wouldn’t lift off the ground. Frustrated and desperate for answers, he sought help from his old science teacher, Professor Isaac Newton.
Professor Newton introduced Siri to a concept that had been puzzling him for years: the Third Law of Motion. “Every action has an equal and opposite reaction,” Newton explained. As Siri mulled over the idea, he had a realization —the flying machine wasn’t generating enough upward force to counteract the downward pull of gravity. With this newfound understanding, Siri realized that to achieve flight, he would need to boost the upward force. After several experiments, he discovered that by installing more powerful engines, the machine could finally produce the lift it needed to defy gravity!
Newton’s Third Law has countless applications across various fields of engineering and technology. Here are just a few examples:
Aerospace Engineering
– Rockets: Rockets work directly on Newton’s Third Law. As the rocket engine expels hot gases downward, the rocket itself is propelled upward by an equal and opposite force.
– Aircraft: The lift generated by an aircraft’s wings is a result of Newton’s law in action. As the wings move through the air, they push the air downward, and in response, the air pushes back, lifting the plane upward.
Automotive Engineering
– Car Tires: Car tires rely on Newton’s law to create traction. As the tires push against the road, the road pushes back, allowing the car to move forward.
– Seatbelts: In the event of a collision, seatbelts protect passengers by applying a force equal and opposite to the forward momentum of their bodies, preventing them from being thrown forward.
Civil Engineering
– Bridges: When designing bridges, engineers must account for Newton’s Third Law. The weight of the bridge pushes downward on its supports, while the supports push upward with equal force to keep the structure standing.
In conclusion, Newton’s Third Law is at play all around us, from the rockets soaring into space to the simple act of crossing a bridge. It’s a fundamental principle that keeps our world—and inventions like Siri’s flying machine—moving forward!
