Conceptual Question [Newtons Laws]

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around understanding the sensations experienced by a passenger during a left turn in a car, framed within the context of Newton's laws of motion.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between forces and motion, questioning how Newton's third law applies to the sensation of being pushed during a turn. There is discussion about the nature of forces involved, including the concept of fictitious forces and the role of inertia.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the concepts, with some providing clarifications on Newton's laws and others suggesting alternative explanations involving inertia and friction. There is a productive exploration of different interpretations regarding the forces at play.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the definitions and implications of forces in a non-inertial reference frame, indicating a need for further clarification on these concepts.

iRamie
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When you sit in the passenger seat, why do you feel pushed up when you make a left turn? Explain using Newton's laws of motion.My Guess:
Newtons third law states there is a reaction for every action. So when you turn left the opposite reaction would be you turning right?
IDK LOL :|
 
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Newton's Third Law is for forces, and states that, for every force (action), there is a force equal in magnitude and opposite in direction (reaction).
 
Exactly, so isn't it considered a force when your car is moving to the left? You are accelerating (change in direction) so there has to be a net force
 
If the car turns in a circular path, there will be a net (centripetal) force to the left. Since the car is an accelerating frame of reference, there will be a fictitious force, the centrifugal force, to the right. This, however, is not a real force but is rather a force the passenger feels due to the changing acceleration of the car.

However, based on the problem statement I think an explanation using inertia and the friction between the passenger and seat is better...
 

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