Newton's Third Law
Observe Newton's Third Law in action! As air escapes from the balloon, it pushes the balloon forward. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Inflate the balloon to see how stored air creates potential energy. When released, the air rushing out creates an action force, and the balloon experiences an equal and opposite reaction force that propels it forward.
The Science Behind Newton's Third Law
Newton's Third Law of Motion states:
"For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction."
- Action Force: The balloon pushes air backward
- Reaction Force: The air pushes the balloon forward with equal force
- Momentum Conservation: The system's total momentum remains zero
The balloon rocket demonstrates:
- How forces come in action-reaction pairs
- How rockets work by expelling mass in one direction to move in the opposite direction
- The relationship between force, mass, and acceleration (F=ma)
