A skydiver falls towards the Earth. The attraction of the Earth on the diver pulls the diver down. What is the reaction to this force?
A) water resistance that will soon act upward on the diver
B) the attraction to the planets, stars, and every particle in the universe
C) air resistance the diver encounters while falling
D) all of these
E) none of these

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to Newton's third law of motion, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The reaction to the Earth's gravitational pull on the diver is the diver's gravitational pull on the Earth. Options A, B, and C describe different forces that act on the diver but do not represent the reaction force to the Earth's pull on the diver.

A Skydiver Falls Towards the Earth