Balloon Inflation and Equal Opposite Forces
What are equal and opposite forces?
Forces are agents which cause a change in the motion of an object moving in a straight line or an object at rest to change its position. According to the third law of motion, reaction and action are equal and opposite forces. This law is seen in the inflation of balloons. When a balloon is being inflated, the force applied in inflating the balloon pushes against the wall of the balloon. The balloon acts in an equal and opposite direction by forcing the air molecules together, thus increasing the pressure of the air inside the balloon. Therefore, an equal and opposite force is exerted by the air molecules on the air molecules.
When inflating a balloon, which of the following represents an equal but opposite force acting on the balloon?
A. releasing the balloon
B. the air entering the balloon
C. tying the balloon
D. the expansion of the balloon
Answer:
When inflating a balloon, the expansion of the balloon represents an equal but opposite force acting on the balloon; option D.
When discussing forces, the concept of equal and opposite forces plays a crucial role in understanding the behavior of objects in motion. In the case of inflating a balloon, the expansion of the balloon itself exerts an equal but opposite force that balances the applied force of inflating the balloon.
As per Newton's third law of motion, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This law explains that when a force is applied to an object, the object exerts an equal force in the opposite direction. In the scenario of a balloon being inflated, the force pushing outwards during the expansion of the balloon is countered by an internal force pushing inwards due to the air molecules being compressed inside the balloon.
Therefore, when considering the forces at play during balloon inflation, it is important to recognize how the expansion of the balloon relates to the concept of equal and opposite forces. Understanding this principle can provide insights into various other physics phenomena where forces interact to produce balanced effects.