Newton's 2nd law of motion states that an object will accelerate in the direction of an applied force. Gravity is a force that causes objects to accelerate towards Earth at 9.8 m/s^2. Newton's 3rd law states that for every action force, there is an equal and opposite reaction force - when one object exerts a force on a second object, the second object exerts an equal force back on the first. Centripetal force and the horizontal motion of satellites allows them to orbit planets in curved paths, while air resistance opposes the downward force of gravity on falling objects.