When a person pushes against a wall with 50 N of force, what force does the wall exert on the person and in what direction?

When a person pushes against a wall with 50 N of force, what force does the wall exert on the person and in what direction?

• A. 50 N in the same direction as the push
• B. 50 N in the opposite direction to the push
• C. 0 N
• D. 100 N

Answer: (B)

Newton's third law says forces come in equal and opposite pairs. When you push on a wall with 50 N, the wall responds with the same 50 N, directed opposite to your push. So the wall’s force on you acts back toward you, exactly opposite to the direction you applied. The magnitude is 50 N because the pair must be equal, and it’s not zero or 100 N because the wall’s push exactly balances the interaction with your push.

Newton's third law says forces come in equal and opposite pairs. When you push on a wall with 50 N, the wall responds with the same 50 N, directed opposite to your push. So the wall’s force on you acts back toward you, exactly opposite to the direction you applied. The magnitude is 50 N because the pair must be equal, and it’s not zero or 100 N because the wall’s push exactly balances the interaction with your push.