Question

Even through there is equal and opposite reaction,usually the two forces are not seen balanced.Why?

Answer 1

Answer:

This may refer to a situation like:

"one person pushes a box, if there is equal and opposite reaction why the box moves and the person does not?"

Remember the second Newton's law:

F = m*a

suppose that the mass of the person is 3 times the mass of the box.

So, if the box has a mass M, the person will have a mass 3*M

Then the Newton's equation for the box when the person pushes with a force F is:

F = M*a

solving for the acceleration, we get:

F/M = a

While the person is also pushed by the box with a force with the same magnitude, then the equation for the person is:

F = (3*M)*a'

Solving for the acceleration, we get:

F/(3M) = a'

Now we can compare the acceleration of the box (F/M) with the acceleration of the person (F/3M).

Is easy to see that the acceleration of the box is 3 times the acceleration of the person.

So regardless of the fact that both the box and the person experience a force with the same magnitude, the box will move more due to this force.

This is why in situations like this, the forces do not seem balanced.