How Can a Box Accelerate If It Pushes Back with Equal Force?

[gotwind]

Homework Statement

Newtons third law tells that if you push a box with 15N force, it pushes back on you with 15N force. How can you ever accelerate this box if it always pushes back with the same force you exert on it? explain briefly

 

[iRaid]

The box isn't accelerating so the sum of the forces is going to equal 0.

 

[jmb88korean]

You are applying a force on the box in one direction. Nothing is applying a force on the BOX in the opposite dirrection you are. The force the box acts on us is countered by our muscles which force our body to stay in the spot we are.

 

[Doc Al]

Newtons third law tells that if you push a box with 15N force, it pushes back on you with 15N force. How can you ever accelerate this box if it always pushes back with the same force you exert on it?

Ask yourself: Do the two equal and opposite forces from Newton's 3rd law both act on the box?