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View Full Version : Gravitational force: action and reaction


mark_ch
Sep24-09, 07:54 PM
Consider two particles 1 and 2 that can interact with each other but are isolated from their surroundings. If an internal force from particle 1, for example, a gravitational force, acts on particle 2, then there must be a second internal force—equal in magnitude but opposite in direction—that particle 2 exerts on particle 1.
But if the particle 2 exerts a gravitational force too? Will the net force exerted on particle 1 be the sum of the gravitational forces 1 to 2 and 2 to 1?

rock.freak667
Sep24-09, 08:25 PM
the force is given by

F=G \frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2}

the force on 1 = - force on 2

so F1= -F2