When a cannon fires a cannonball, the ball goes forward and the cannon itself moves backwards. Which of Newton's laws explains this phenomenon? Why does the cannonball move faster... When a cannon fires a cannonball, the ball goes forward and the cannon itself moves backwards. Which of Newton's laws explains this phenomenon? Why does the cannonball move faster than the cannon?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking which of Newton's laws of motion explains why a cannon recoils when it fires a cannonball and why the cannonball travels faster than the cannon itself. This involves understanding the concepts of action-reaction pairs and the differences in mass and acceleration.
Answer
Newton's third law of motion
The final answer is Newton's third law of motion.
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is Newton's third law of motion.
More Information
In the case of the cannon and cannonball, Newton's third law explains that the forces exerted on both objects are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction. However, due to the cannon's much larger mass, it moves backward slower compared to the cannonball, which moves forward faster due to its smaller mass.
Tips
A common mistake is to confuse Newton's second law with the third law. Always remember that the third law refers to equal and opposite reactions.
Sources
- Newton's third law and cannons - Physics Stack Exchange - physics.stackexchange.com
- When a cannon is fired, are the forces on the cannonball ... - Socratic - socratic.org
- Why does the cannon ball go faster than the cannon? - Quora - quora.com
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