Which statement represents Newton's third law of motion using two objects?

Study for the IGCSE Physics Exam. Engage with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, complete with hints and explanations, and prepare thoroughly for your assessment.

The statement that captures Newton's third law of motion accurately describes the interaction between two objects. According to this law, when one object exerts a force on a second object, the second object exerts an equal and opposite force back on the first object. This reciprocal action is fundamental to understanding how forces work in pairs.

In practical terms, this means that forces are always part of an interaction: if you push against a wall, the wall pushes back with an equal force in the opposite direction. This principle is essential in various applications, from sports to understanding how vehicles operate.

The other statements do not accurately reflect Newton's third law. For instance, the first choice implies a joint motion without addressing the forces involved, while the third choice unnecessarily repeats an object in the context of force application. The fourth statement misrepresents the law by introducing the idea of a "stronger" reaction, which is not aligned with the principle that action and reaction forces are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.

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