Newton's third law of motion
Also known as law of action and reaction
law of classical physics according to which if an object exerts a force upon another object, then that object exerts an equal and opposite force on the first object
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Newton's third law of motion states that whenever one object pushes or pulls on another object, that second object pushes or pulls back with a force that is equal in strength but opposite in direction. This law matters because it explains how forces work in everyday interactions—from why a rocket moves forward when it expels gas backward, to why you feel pushed back when you push against a wall.
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Newton's laws of motion are three physical laws that describe the relationship between the motion of an object and the forces acting on it. These laws, which provide the basis for Newtonian mechanics, can be paraphrased as follows:
A body remains at rest, or in motion at a constant speed in a straight line, unless it is acted upon by a force.