What is Newton’s third law?

Newton’s third law is all about pushes and pulls happening at the same time.

Imagine you're playing with your favorite toy car. When you push it forward, it moves, but did you know that the car also pushes back on you? It might not feel like much, but it's there! This is what Newton’s third law says: every push has a pull, and they’re equal in strength.

Think of when you're jumping on a trampoline. You jump down, and the trampoline pushes you back up, that’s your push and the trampoline's pull working together! Or like when you're riding a skateboard: when you push the ground with your foot, the ground pushes you forward.

If you’ve ever tried to pull a heavy box across the floor, you might feel like it’s pulling you back too. That’s because the box is pushing back on you, just like your toy car! It's like having a little friend who always matches your strength when you play tug-of-war.

So remember: whenever something pushes or pulls, there's another thing doing the same right back!