Why does a canoe move forward when the canoeist pushes water backwards with the paddle? Class 9

Why does a canoe move forward when the canoeist pushes water backwards with the paddle? Class 9

Think It Over (Page 94)

Question 1.

Why does a canoe move forward when the canoeist pushes water backwards with the paddle? Class 9

Answer:

When the canoeist pushes water backward with the paddle, the water exerts an equal and opposite force on the canoe. According to Newton's third law of motion, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. This reaction force acts in the forward direction on the canoe, causing it to move ahead.

Question 2.

Suppose the same amount of water is pushed harder in two different canoes, one empty and the other carrying two passengers. In which case will the canoe move faster? Class 9

Answer:

The empty canoe will move faster because it has less mass. According to Newton's second law of motion, acceleration is inversely proportional to mass. So, for the same applied force, a lighter canoe gains more acceleration and hence moves faster than a heavier canoe carrying passengers.