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GCSE Physics · key term
The law stating that when two objects interact, each exerts a force on the other that is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.
Used by Edexcel and OCR
Specification 2.23 · Paper 1
Revise: Newton's Third Law and Momentum ConservationNewton’s third law means these forces have equal magnitudes and opposite directions, even if the objects have very different masses. A lorry does not exert a larger force on a car than the car exerts on the lorry.
Specification P2.2p · Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher)
The law stating that whenever object A exerts a force on object B, object B simultaneously exerts an equal-magnitude force in the opposite direction on object A.
To link Newton’s third law to momentum conservation, include the full chain: equal and opposite forces act for the same time, so the objects have equal and opposite changes in momentum.
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Newton’s third law describes what happens to both objects in every such interaction.
Paper 1, Paper 2
Whenever two objects interact, each exerts an equal-magnitude, oppositely directed force on the other.