Radiation reaction force and Newton's third law

In summary, there is a problem with radiation reaction force when considering a charged sphere attached to a rotating object. The force of the emitted radiation, which is equal to the power of the radiation multiplied by the sphere's speed, is not sufficient to supply the radiation reaction force. This means that the radiation reaction force is unbalanced, contradicting Newton's third law.
  • #1
goran d
32
0
There seems to be a problem with radiation reaction force.

Let's look at charged sphere, attached on a rod to an object with larger mass, and rotating around its centre together with it.
The rotating charged sphere emits radiation with power P.
The sphere's speed is V.

Assuming energy is conserved, the rotation is slowed down by radiation reaction force.
The radiation reaction force's magnitude is F
P=FV
F=P/V
Thus we find the force.

Now let's find how much maximum "force" would the emitted radiation create.
The energy of radiation:
E=mc2
The impulse of radiation:
p=mc

p=E/c

we differentiate both sides with respect to time

F1=P/c
Where F1 is the force that the radiation would create if all of it were to move away in the same direction as the motion of the sphere.Clearly F1<F, so the radiation is not sufficient to supply the radiation reaction force. And even more, not all radiation is going to "shoot" in the same direction, so the difference is even greater. So the radiation reaction force must therefore be unbalanced, contrary to Newton's third law!

F1=F(v/c)
 
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  • #2
"The radiation reaction force's magnitude is F
P=FV
F=P/V
Thus we find the force."
Where does this come from? What kind of force you refer to here?
 

1. What is radiation reaction force?

Radiation reaction force is a force that acts on a charged particle when it is accelerated. It is caused by the particle emitting electromagnetic radiation, which carries away energy and momentum from the particle.

2. How does radiation reaction force relate to Newton's third law?

According to Newton's third law, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In the case of radiation reaction force, the action is the emission of electromagnetic radiation by the charged particle, and the reaction is the force exerted on the particle in the opposite direction.

3. Is radiation reaction force always present?

Yes, radiation reaction force is always present whenever a charged particle is accelerated. However, its effects are typically only noticeable for extremely high energy particles or in extreme conditions, such as in the presence of strong electromagnetic fields.

4. How does radiation reaction force affect the motion of a charged particle?

Radiation reaction force can cause a charged particle to lose energy and momentum, leading to a change in its velocity and trajectory. This can result in the particle spiraling in towards a central point or being deflected from its original path.

5. Can radiation reaction force be ignored in calculations?

In most cases, radiation reaction force is relatively small and can be ignored in calculations. However, for high energy particles or in extreme conditions, it may need to be taken into account to accurately describe the behavior of the charged particle.

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