How does emitting light cause you to get pushed backwards? Same with gasses escaping a rocket’s nozzle; how does that propel the rocket? Like, where does this opposing force come from?
In: 5
[Feynman speaks about the why question](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36GT2zI8lVA) in physics.
We can explain phenomena by other phenomena (The sun looks red in a sunset because of the atmosphere scattering light) but follow the why chain and you get to a certain point where.. it’s just how things are. We live in a world with certain properties. Matter has properties like inertia, temperature, etc.. Fundamental forces exist, like electromagnetism and gravity.
Asking “why?” to any of those fundamental things is delving into metaphysics. Philosophy merging with physics. Why do time and space exist? Why do we exist? What does existing mean? The question *Why do objects resist forces by applying an opposite force* is part of that realm.
The better question to ask in physics is always **how**, not why.
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