Answer to Question #183548 in Classical Mechanics for Jethro

Question

Explain concisely, why a gun recoils after firing.

Answer 1

When a bullet is fired from a gun, the gun exerts a force on the bullet in the forward direction. This is force is called as the action force. The bullet also exerts an equal and opposite force on the gun in the backward direction. Therefore a gun recoils when a bullet is fired from it.