Newton's Laws of Motion

Question 2 • AA-F26 Physical Science

Juan inflates a balloon and then releases its end to let the balloon go free as air comes out. The balloon then flies around the room.

Answer

According to Newton’s first law of motion, the balloon would stay still unless a force caused it to move.

According to Newton’s third law of motion, the balloon is pushed forward as the air is forced out.

According to Newton’s third law of motion, the balloon resists any change of motion unless an unbalanced force acts upon it.

According to Newton’s second law of motion, the balloon exerts a force on the air, which exerts a force back on the balloon.

Explanation

As air rushes out of the balloon in one direction, it pushes the air backward. Newton’s third law says the air exerts an equal and opposite force on the balloon, pushing it forward. Choice B correctly describes this action-and-reaction pair. Choice D also mentions forces on the balloon and air, but that is Newton’s third law, not the second law.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.

More from this Course

Gravity

Gravity

Quiz