Question

When two spring balances joined at their free ends are pulled apart, both show the same reading. Explain. 

Answer 1

Couple two spring balances A and B as shown in the figure. When we pull the balance B, both the balances show the same reading indicating that both the action and reaction forces are equal and opposite. In this case, the pull of either of the two spring balances can be regarded as action and that of the other balance as the reaction.