What Happens if Newton's Third Law is Violated?

In summary, if an object's inertia managed to drop to zero, it would no longer be subject to the laws of motion.
  • #1
Mt. Nixion
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What would happen if (if ever) when the action force is greater than or less than the reaction force and were not equal in magnitude and were not equal in size?
 
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  • #2
Mt. Nixion said:
What would happen if (if ever) when the action force is greater than or less than the reaction force and were not equal in magnitude and were not equal in size?

Momentum would not be conserved ; which would translate into physics not being invariant under translations in space.
 
  • #3
Well, that depends on your understanding of what is contact. Two objects in contact due to force exert equal and opposite force to each other so that they remain in contact. The third law is just a continuation of this concept and is not an independent law. But it is simply surprising that this also applies on two remote objects which are not in contact if the considered force is gravitational or electrostatic of distant objects.
 
  • #4
vaishakh said:
Two objects in contact due to force exert equal and opposite force to each other so that they remain in contact.
What do you mean? Are you implying that as long as the 3rd law is satisfied, two objects must remain in contact?
 
  • #5
I mean that is esential for two objects to remain in contact. Correct if I am wrong
 
  • #6
Two objects that come into contact will exert equal and opposite contact forces on each other in accordance with Newton's 3rd law. It doesn't matter whether they remain in contact with each other or separate; Newton's 3rd law is satisfied either way.
 
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  • #7
Mt. Nixion said:
What would happen if (if ever) when the action force is greater than or less than the reaction force and were not equal in magnitude and were not equal in size?

force either comes in magnitude or in size , not both.
 
  • #8
Another question; what if the forces in Newton's third law were not equal for things like running, throwing, jumping, lifting, kicking, punching, squeezing, stretching and breaking?
 
  • #9
Netwon's Laws merely describe how we see the world work. They do not have anything to do with why they work like that.

I suspect what you want to propose is something like: what if an object's inertia managed to drop to zero? What would happen?
 

1. 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 one object exerts a force on another object, the second object exerts an equal and opposite force back on the first object.

2. How can Newton's third law be violated?

Newton's third law can be violated if the forces involved are not equal and opposite. This can occur if there are external forces acting on the objects, or if the objects have different masses or acceleration.

3. What are some examples of violating Newton's third law?

One example is a rocket taking off. The force of the rocket's engines pushing downward is greater than the force of gravity pulling upward, thus violating the equal and opposite force requirement. Another example is a person pushing against a wall. The force of the person's push is not met with an equal and opposite force from the wall.

4. Why is it important to understand and follow Newton's third law?

Understanding and following Newton's third law is important because it helps us to accurately predict and understand the motion of objects. It also plays a crucial role in engineering and technology, as it allows us to design and build structures and machines that can withstand external forces.

5. Can Newton's third law be violated in outer space?

Yes, Newton's third law can be violated in outer space if there are no external forces acting on the objects. In the vacuum of space, objects can exert forces on each other without experiencing an equal and opposite reaction due to the lack of external forces.

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