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Does Newton's Third Law apply to magnetism?

 
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Jun14-12, 09:19 PM   #1
 

Does Newton's Third Law apply to magnetism?


Newton's Third Law states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. I'm wondering if and how this applies to magnetism. I would assume that it would mean if a moving charge is creating a magnetic field that causes a magnetic force on another charge, then it can be said that the latter charge causes a magnetic force on the former charge of equal magnitude but opposite direction? I suppose this can be explained from the fact that the relative velocities of each charge is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction of each other, and the magnetic force is proportional to the velocity.
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Jun14-12, 09:32 PM   #2
 
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Quote by cryora View Post
I would assume that it would mean if a moving charge is creating a magnetic field that causes a magnetic force on another charge, then it can be said that the latter charge causes a magnetic force on the former charge of equal magnitude but opposite direction?
Yes.
I suppose this can be explained from the fact that the relative velocities of each charge is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction of each other, and the magnetic force is proportional to the velocity.
Right!
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