Question

Action and reaction act on
A. same body in opposite directions
B. same body in the same direction
C. different bodies in opposite directions
D. different bodies but in the same direction

Answer 1

Hint: Newton’s third law of motion gives us the definition of action and reaction. Action is defined as the force that is being applied on a body. Reaction is defined as the force that is being produced by that body due to the action acting on that body.

Complete step by step answer:
Newton gave three laws of motion which govern all the types of motion occurring around us. Newton’s third law is related to the action on a body and the reaction produced by that body. It states that whenever a force is applied on a body then as a result of that force, another force is produced by that body in order to counter the force acting on the body. The force that is being applied on the body is known as the action while the force produced by that as a response to the action is known as the reaction. To every action, there is always an equal and opposite reaction.

When action is applied on a body then reaction is produced in such a way that it tries to cancel the action acting on it. Action acts on the body on which it is being applied while the reaction acts on the body which applies the force such that direction of reaction is opposite to that of action.

For example: When we apply force on a wall then our body is applying the action on the wall while the wall is applying a reaction on our body which is in the opposite direction to the action.

Therefore, the action and reaction tend to act on two different bodies such that their directions are opposite to each other. Hence, the correct answer is option C.

Note:
The student should remember that the magnitude of action is equal to the magnitude of the reaction produced. These two pairs of forces are always present whenever a force is applied on a body.