Two blocks of unequal masses are tied by a spring. The blocks are pulled stretching the spring slightly and the system is released on a frictionless horizontal platform. Are the forces due to the spring on the two blocks equal and opposite? If yes, is it an example of Newton’s third law?

Two blocks of unequal masses are tied by a spring. The blocks are pull

1.	Two blocks of unequal masses are tied by a spring. The blocks are pulled stretching the spring slightly and the system is released on a frictionless horizontal platform. Are the forces due to the spring on the two blocks equal and opposite? If yes, is it an example of Newton’s third law?
Answer» Yes, the forces due to the spring on the two blocks are equal and opposite. But it’s not an example of Newton’s third law because there are three objects (2 blocks + 1 spring). Spring force on one block and force by the same block on the spring is an actionreaction pair.