Action and Reaction - I. Newton

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on Newton's Third Law of Motion, specifically addressing the interaction between a person at the summit of Mt. Everest and the Earth. When a person exerts a downward force of 800N due to gravity, the Earth experiences an equal and opposite force. However, the Earth's massive mass (approximately 5.97 x 1024 kg) results in an imperceptibly small acceleration towards the person, rendering it negligible in practical terms.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's Laws of Motion
  • Basic knowledge of gravitational force and acceleration
  • Familiarity with the concept of mass and its relation to force
  • Awareness of the scale of Earth's mass compared to human mass
NEXT STEPS
  • Study Newton's Laws of Motion in detail
  • Explore gravitational force calculations using the formula F=ma
  • Investigate the effects of mass on acceleration in various contexts
  • Research the implications of global warming on Earth's physical dynamics
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, educators teaching Newtonian mechanics, and anyone interested in the fundamental principles of motion and gravitational interactions.

tkojemile
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Hi,

I have for me a complex question! :(

If I get to Mt. Everest (let's say - highest place on Earth), then there is acceleration of my body towards the Earth - because of g - gravity force.

Now - question is does Earth have acceleration towards my body - as 3rd Isaac N. law would say!

And if it has - why?

Thanks for help
 
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Yes. The difference being, the acceleration on the Earth is negligible. Let's take f=ma, you exert, say, 800N (i.e. 80kg * 9.8ms-2) downwards. Likewise, the Earth now has a force 800N acting upwards. But, since that 800N is acting on 238083259285928234523kg of mass, the acceleration is just too small for anyone to care.

Maybe when global warming dies off, we'll move onto "global acceleration"?
 
dst said:
Maybe when global warming dies off, we'll move onto "global acceleration"?

Good one! Thanks for AW.
 

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