Newton's Third Law and a canoe

[Balsam]

Homework Statement

Explain why when a person in a canoe throws a package onto the shore, the canoe moves away from the shore?

Homework Equations

No equations, just Newton's third law.

The Attempt at a Solution

I think it's because the person applies a force onto the package and the package applies a reaction force onto the person.This increases the force being applied to the canoe, which increases the force that the canoe is applying on the water. Thus, the water applies that same amount of force on the canow, pushing it forwards. Is this correct?

 

[andrewkirk]

I think it's because the person applies a force onto the package and the package applies a reaction force onto the person.This increases the force being applied to the canoe

You can stop there. That force pushes the canoe in a direction away from the shore. The water doesn't need to be considered. All it does is slow down (but not eliminate) the motion of the canoe away from the shore.