What do we call forces of equal magnitude acting on different objects?

The correct answer refers to forces that are equal in magnitude and act on different objects as action-reaction pairs. This concept comes from Newton's Third Law of Motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When two objects interact, they exert forces on each other that are equal in strength but occur in opposite directions.

This means that when one object applies a force to a second object, the second object simultaneously applies a force of equal magnitude back on the first object. These forces do not act on the same object, which distinguishes them from balanced forces, which act on the same object and can result in a state of equilibrium.

Static forces refer specifically to forces acting on an object that is at rest, and while equal forces could be present in some scenarios, they do not capture the full dynamic relationship described by action-reaction pairs. Therefore, understanding action-reaction pairs is crucial for grasping the fundamental interactions between different objects.