Do Neutrinos Violate Newton's Third Law?

In summary, the conversation discusses whether or not neutrinos break Newton's 3rd law as they are able to pass through particles without interacting with them. The conclusion is that while this may seem to violate the law, it is not a direct violation as the chances of the neutrino interacting with a particle are extremely small due to its lack of charge and small mass. Therefore, there is no clear answer as to whether or not neutrinos break the law and it may depend on the perspective and interpretation of the situation.
  • #1
benzun_1999
260
0
hi,

Before i begin i am not sure where to put this post wether here or in the general section.

Is Newtons 3rd law broken?

Neutrinos don't follow this rule. the neutrinos can just pass through particles. so don't they break the 3rd rule? :confused:
 
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  • #2
When a neutrino passes undeflected through the earth, there is no violation of the 3rd law since neither the neutrino nor the atoms making up the Earth are reacted upon.
 
  • #3
Benzun,

Regarding the quote under your name, what precisely would constitute victory to God?
 
  • #4
i think this is a bit religious.
 
  • #5
i believe that action is the passing of the neutrino through the other atom and there is no reaction.

according to the law you cannot touch (pass) something without touching it.
 
  • #6
benzun_1999 said:
i believe that action is the passing of the neutrino through the other atom and there is no reaction.

according to the law you cannot touch (pass) something without touching it.

What law is that? Where did you see it?
 
  • #7
Benzun,

May I suggest that you are going by (1) everyday experience, where contact forces are the result of a huge number of interactions per second, and maybe also (2) bubble chamber photographs, where the number of interactions is modest. In the latter case, I believe there are bubble chamber photos that are interpreted as neutrino reactions. For instance, neutrinos from the Sun or from a nuclear reactor enter unseen (since neutrinos obviously have no electric charge), and then, despite the tiny coupling to matter, happen ever so rarely to interact. One can measure the momenta and energies of the outgoing charged particles, and thereby infer what the momentum and energy of the incoming neutrino must have been.
 
  • #8
benzun_1999 said:
i believe that action is the passing of the neutrino through the other atom and there is no reaction.

according to the law you cannot touch (pass) something without touching it.

No, that's not what Newton's laws say. It is not a matter of the neutrino "passing through", say, an electron or a proton in some mystical way: all of those particles are so small that the odds on them "colliding" directly are infinitesmal anyway (and in quantum mechanics, that's not what happens anyway). Even classically, electrons and protons "interfere" primarily by affecting one another with their charges- a neutrino does not have a charge which leaves everything up to it gravitational field (again, the odds on it getting close enough to another particle for the weak and strong forces to come into play are infinitesmal). A neutrino has so little mass its gravitational field does very little. That's why a neutrino can "pass through lead".

Of course, all those "infinitesmal odds" are not 0: given enough lead and even a neutrino has some chance of being stopped.
 

FAQ: Do Neutrinos Violate Newton's Third Law?

1. How do neutrinos violate Newton's Third Law?

Neutrinos do not actually violate Newton's Third Law. This law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Neutrinos do not have electric charge, so they do not interact with electromagnetic forces. Therefore, they can pass through matter without any significant interaction or reaction.

2. Is the violation of Newton's Third Law proven or just a theory?

The violation of Newton's Third Law by neutrinos is still a theory and has not been proven. Scientists have observed that neutrinos have very small masses, which could potentially explain why they do not always follow the laws of motion. However, more research and evidence is needed to confirm this theory.

3. Can neutrinos break the laws of physics?

Neutrinos do not break the laws of physics, but they can behave in ways that are not fully understood or explained by our current understanding of physics. Their unique properties and interactions make them a subject of ongoing research and discovery.

4. Are there any real-life implications of neutrinos violating Newton's Third Law?

The potential violation of Newton's Third Law by neutrinos has sparked curiosity and interest in the scientific community. If proven, it could lead to a better understanding of the fundamental laws of the universe and the nature of matter. However, there are currently no known practical applications or implications of this theory.

5. How are scientists studying the potential violation of Newton's Third Law by neutrinos?

Scientists use various techniques and experiments, such as particle accelerators and detectors, to study neutrinos and their properties. They also analyze data from natural sources, such as the sun and supernovas, to better understand the behavior of neutrinos. These studies and experiments can provide insights into the potential violation of Newton's Third Law by neutrinos.

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