Is This Scenario Demonstrating Newton's Third Law of Motion?

In summary, the conversation discusses a scenario where two people, A and B, are involved in a collision where Person A hits Person B. Person A experiences a greater acceleration and is pushed back a greater distance than Person B. This situation can be explained by both Newton's Second and Third Laws of Motion. The Second Law states that acceleration is dependent on the net force applied, while the Third Law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
  • #1
permapoop
10
0
Let's say there's two people, A and B.

Person A hits person B and person A gets pushed back more than person B does.

Would be that be exhibiting Newton's Third Law of Motion of Newton's Second Law of Motion?
 
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  • #2
I think both.
How much A is pushed back and its acceleration after collision is given by II law, and III law says A is affected by its pushing against B.
 
  • #3
Newtons II law is applied in cases only if there is acceleration( there must be net force available in a direction). Newton III law is applied in cases involving forces(independent of net force).
 
  • #4
permapoop said:
Let's say there's two people, A and B.

Person A hits person B and person A gets pushed back more than person B does.

Would be that be exhibiting Newton's Third Law of Motion of Newton's Second Law of Motion?

Your language is a little fuzzy. Does "gets pushed" mean "experiences a force"? If so, the situation you describe violates the third law of motion. It says that whenever one body applies a force to a second body, the second body applies a force of the same size but opposite direction on the first body. The pushes in the scenario have to be the same size.

If "gets pushed back more" means that Person A ends up a greater distance from the starting point than Person B, then the Second Law comes into play. Both people start at rest and end up moving, so each accelerated. If Person A moves farther in a given amount of time, he or she experienced a greater acceleration. It follows from the Second Law that he or she has a lesser mass than Person B.
 
  • #5


This scenario would be exhibiting Newton's Third Law of Motion, also known as the Law of Action and Reaction. According to this law, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. In this case, person A's hit on person B is the action, and the force of person B pushing back on person A is the equal and opposite reaction. This is in accordance with Newton's Third Law of Motion. Newton's Second Law of Motion, also known as the Law of Force and Acceleration, states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on the object and inversely proportional to its mass. While this law may also apply in this scenario, it is not the primary principle at play.
 

FAQ: Is This Scenario Demonstrating Newton's Third Law of Motion?

What are Newton's three laws of motion?

Newton's first law of motion, also known as the law of inertia, states that an object will remain at rest or in constant motion unless acted upon by an external force. Newton's second law of motion states that force is equal to mass times acceleration. Newton's third law of motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

How do Newton's laws of motion apply to everyday life?

Newton's laws of motion can be observed in many everyday situations. For example, the first law can be seen when a car comes to a stop after the brakes are applied. The second law can be seen when a person rides a bicycle, as the force of pedaling increases the acceleration. The third law can be seen when a balloon is released and moves in the opposite direction of the air being released from it.

What is the difference between mass and weight according to Newton's laws of motion?

Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object and is constant, while weight is a measure of the force of gravity on an object and can change depending on the location. Newton's second law of motion relates mass and acceleration, while weight is not directly related to Newton's laws.

How did Newton's laws of motion impact the field of physics?

Newton's laws of motion revolutionized the field of physics and laid the foundation for classical mechanics. They provided a framework for understanding the behavior of objects and how they interact with forces. Newton's laws are still used today to explain and predict the motion of objects.

Are Newton's laws of motion still relevant today?

Yes, Newton's laws of motion are still relevant today and are used in many fields, including engineering, physics, and astronomy. They are fundamental principles that can be applied to a wide range of situations and are still used to make predictions and calculations in modern science and technology.

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