According to Newton's 3rd Law, what occurs in response to an action force?

Study for the PLTW Principles of Engineering Exam. Dive into flashcards and multiple choice questions with detailed explanations to ace your exam. Prepare confidently!

According to Newton's Third Law of Motion, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This means that whenever a force (the action force) is applied, there will be a force (the reaction force) that is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction.

For example, if you push against a wall with a certain force, the wall pushes back against you with the same amount of force, but in the opposite direction. This principle is essential in understanding interactions between objects and explains many physical phenomena, such as how birds fly by pushing air downwards and consequently being propelled upwards.

The other options presented do not accurately capture this fundamental principle. Some suggest the absence of a reaction force or imply that the action force would somehow become irrelevant, which contradicts the very essence of Newton's Third Law. Therefore, the correct understanding lies in recognizing that a reaction force exists in response to any action force, ensuring that the forces remain balanced in every interaction.

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