rock.freak667 said:
Jumping...you exert a force on the ground, the ground exerts a force on you which causes you to move upwards.
This example really needs expanding to explain the everyday application.
When standing on the ground, you exert a force on the ground [down] and the ground exerts a force [up] on you. [that's one force on the ground, one force on you]
But that's not all.
Through the effect we call gravity, the Earth is attracting you [down] and you are attracting the Earth [up]. [that's a second force on you and a second force on the Earth]
In that case all those forces have the same size, so both you and the Earth have a net force of zero - neither you nor the Earth moves.
If you alter your stance so that you are in a squat position, it is possible for you to activate your leg muscles and exert a greater force on the Earth [down] than in the case above. The Earth will of course exert a greater force [up] on you.
Gravity has not changed, so the attracting forces mentioned above have not got any bigger.
The force attracting you down is now smaller than the force pushing you up, so the UP force wins - you accelerate up.
Note: By the time your legs are straight, you will have gained some upward velocity and will thus continue to rise with your feet leaving the ground - you jump!
Note Also: Once your feet leave the ground there is no upward force acting on you, so the remaining force (the attraction force [down] due to gravity) is now unopposed and first stops you rising [after a short distance] then brings you back to Earth - where balance can again be achieved.
Peter