Two spring balances pull each other in opposite directions. If the rea...
Solution:
When two spring balances pull each other in opposite directions, they exert equal but opposite forces on each other. This is known as Newton's third law of motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Given that the reading of one spring balance is 2 N, we need to determine the reading shown by the second spring balance. The correct answer is option 'D', which is 2.0 N.
To understand why the reading of the second spring balance is 2.0 N, let's consider the following points:
Newton's Third Law of Motion:
According to Newton's third law of motion, when two objects interact with each other, they exert equal and opposite forces on each other. In this case, the two spring balances are interacting with each other by pulling in opposite directions.
Equal but Opposite Forces:
Since the two spring balances are pulling each other in opposite directions, the force exerted by one spring balance on the other is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the force exerted by the other spring balance.
Reading of the Spring Balance:
The reading of a spring balance indicates the magnitude of the force exerted on it. When the reading of one spring balance is 2 N, it means that a force of 2 N is being exerted on it.
Equal Force Exerted:
Since the two spring balances exert equal and opposite forces on each other, the force exerted by the second spring balance on the first spring balance is also 2 N. This means that the reading shown by the second spring balance is also 2 N.
Therefore, the correct answer is option 'D', which is 2.0 N.