Chapter 4, Problem 8RQ

If the world pulls you downward, what is the reaction force?

To determine

The reaction force when the world pulls a person downwards.

Answer to Problem 8RQ

The reaction force is the force exerted by the person back on the world.

Explanation of Solution

From Newton’s third law, an equal magnitude of force comes whenever there is an action force on one body due to other.

Here, the interaction of forces takes place between the person and the world, and the action force is the pull of the world in the downward direction due to which the person pushes a reaction force on the world. This reaction force is equal in quantity with the downward pull.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the reaction force is the force exerted by the person back on the world.