Applications of electromagnetism

[ksmalls]

Homework Statement

Is the magnetic force the Earth exerts on a compass needle greater than, equal to, or less that the force the compass needle exerts on Earth? Explain.

Homework Equations

None.

The Attempt at a Solution

I attempted to analyze the forces as if they behaved as Newton's forces, i.e. by stating that in an action reaction pair the forces must be equal and opposite. I started to compare the magnetic forces to action reaction pairs in gravity, and how a force that Earth exerts on a falling object equals the force that said object exerts on Earth. However, I'm not sure if that's correct because I don't know if magnetic forces behave the same way as magnetic forces.

 

[mfb]

However, I'm not sure if that's correct because I don't know if magnetic forces behave the same way as magnetic forces.

I hope so (bold from me) ;).

Newton's laws apply to all types of forces.