Why doesn't the reaction force accelerate me when I push a 20kg box?

[autodidude]

If I push a box (mass of 20kg) with a force of 140N, is my acceleration 2m/s^2 in the positive direction? I cause it to accelerate in the same direction as I'm pushing in, and that accelerates at 7m/s^2, but it reacts with 140N also, so shouldn't it have some acceleration in my direction to produce that reaction force?

 

[Doc Al]

The acceleration of some object depends on the net force on the object, not on any forces that the object may exert on other objects.

 

[autodidude]

If I understand you correctly, acceleration x mass of an object does not give the force exerted on others?

 

[Doc Al]

If I understand you correctly, acceleration x mass of an object does not give the force exerted on others?

Acceleration x mass of an object just gives you the net force on the object.

 

[Bob at PC]

I will assume that your mass is 70 kg.

If you are floating in space and you exert a 140 N force on a 20 kg object, while you are pushing, it will indeed accelerate at 7 m/s/s. And yes, likewise, while exerting the 140 N force, your center of mass will accelerate in the opposite direction by 2 m/s/s, because Newton's 2nd and 3rd laws apply to both you andthe object.

 

[autodidude]

Acceleration x mass of an object just gives you the net force on the object.

Of the forces acting on it? Oooh...I find that a bit less intuitive.

So with weight, 686N is the force ACTING on it, not the force produced by the 70kg mass under gravity?

I will assume that your mass is 70 kg.

If you are floating in space and you exert a 140 N force on a 20 kg object, while you are pushing, it will indeed accelerate at 7 m/s/s. And yes, likewise, while exerting the 140 N force, your center of mass will accelerate in the opposite direction by 2 m/s/s, because Newton's 2nd and 3rd laws apply to both you andthe object.

Yeah, I misunderstood Newton's laws, I thought the object would've had to accelerate in my direction to exert a force to react against my action

 

[Doc Al]

Of the forces acting on it? Oooh...I find that a bit less intuitive.

So with weight, 686N is the force ACTING on it, not the force produced by the 70kg mass under gravity?

For a 70kg mass near the Earth's surface, 686 N is one of the forces acting on it. It is the gravitational force that the Earth exerts on the mass. And it's also the gravitational force that the mass exerts on the earth. (Newton's 3rd law.)

But when you apply ΣF = ma to an object, ΣF stands for the net force on the object.