Is Newton's Third Law always true in every scenario?

In summary, Newton's three laws of motion are general ideas about motion that are correct in most cases.
  • #1
treborly45
21
0
Are the forces ALWAYS exactly opposite of each other?

Is there a way to accelerate a mass upwards, while having the "recoil" force travel on a horizontal plan or somehow completely eliminated?


Any and all information concerning this is much appreciated.

Rob
 
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  • #2
Maybe events in curved spacetime would violate "equal and opposite." Otherwise, in our everyday Euclidean, inertial space, the law holds.
 
  • #3
That's actually not quite true. The real content of the third law is the conservation of momentum; but, there are situations where the momentum of some third thing is relevant, without exactly being able to talk about a force.

The classic example of this is the magnetic force. If you consider two charged particles moving paths that intersect at a right angle, for example, you'll find that the magnetic forces on them are not equal and opposite. This seeming paradox is solved by the realization that electric and magnetic fields in combination can carry momentum. When one adds that momentum in, momentum is conserved without equal and opposite forces.
 
  • #4
///Are the forces ALWAYS exactly opposite of each other?\\\

that's seems right if the forces was acts in diffrents bodies as if we have a horse hold a care ! so mybe the force acts on each body is diffrent ! isn't it :)
 
  • #5
My question is this: are Newton's three laws of motion as general ideas about motion correct?

1. The first law is the principle of inertia. It states that an object in motion will conntinue to move unless acted on by an external force. And that an object at rest will remain at rest unless acted on by an external force.

2. The second law states that the change in momentum is proportional to the external force.

3. The third law is that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
 
  • #6
for which case u ask?

u ask as general if those r right or not? this is not a specified question ! sir ,
 

FAQ: Is Newton's Third Law always true in every scenario?

What is Newton's Third Law of Motion?

Newton's Third Law of Motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This means that when an object exerts a force on another object, the second object will exert an equal and opposite force back on the first object.

How does Newton's Third Law apply to everyday life?

Newton's Third Law can be observed in many everyday situations, such as when we walk or run. When we push against the ground, the ground pushes back with an equal and opposite force, propelling us forward. It also explains how rockets are able to launch into space by pushing exhaust gases downwards, creating an equal and opposite force that propels the rocket upwards.

Is Newton's Third Law always true?

Yes, Newton's Third Law is a fundamental law of physics and is always true. It applies to all objects, regardless of their size, shape, or speed. However, the effects of this law may not always be noticeable, depending on the forces involved.

How is Newton's Third Law related to conservation of momentum?

Newton's Third Law is closely related to the law of conservation of momentum. Momentum is a measure of an object's motion, and according to the law of conservation of momentum, the total momentum of a system remains constant unless acted upon by external forces. Since Newton's Third Law states that forces always occur in pairs, the action and reaction forces will have equal and opposite momenta, resulting in the total momentum of the system remaining constant.

Can Newton's Third Law be applied to non-contact forces?

Yes, Newton's Third Law can be applied to non-contact forces, such as gravitational and electromagnetic forces. For example, the Earth exerts a gravitational force on the moon, and the moon exerts an equal and opposite gravitational force back on the Earth. Similarly, a positively charged object will exert an electromagnetic force on a nearby negatively charged object, and the negatively charged object will exert an equal and opposite force back on the positively charged object.

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