Is Newton's 3rd Law valid here?

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In summary: What is more, the bird cannot change the direction of the air resistance, even if it could move its wings faster. The air resistance is always perpendicular to the motion of the bird.
  • #1
souvik shome
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Let us assume a bird to be moving in a straight line with a velocity 'u' and a man to be chasing it with a velocity 'v' in the same direction. If v>u in magnitude, then the man will observe the bird to be moving towards him with a velocity 'v-u' in magnitude. However, the bird will still be flapping it's wings towards him.
Now as he is moving with a constant velocity (or in other words, as he is in an inertial frame of reference), he should find Newton's laws of motion to be valid. But from his point of view, the action of the wings of the bird and the reaction of the air on the bird appear to be in the same direction. Isn't this against Newton's 3rd law of motion?
 
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  • #2
How do you perceive the 3rd law? I'm confused as to your scenario. And your interpretation of 'equal force in opposite direction' to the force being applied..
 
  • #3
souvik shome said:
Let us assume a bird to be moving in a straight line with a velocity 'u' and a man to be chasing it with a velocity 'v' in the same direction. If v>u in magnitude, then the man will observe the bird to be moving towards him with a velocity 'v-u' in magnitude. However, the bird will still be flapping it's wings towards him.
Now as he is moving with a constant velocity (or in other words, as he is in an inertial frame of reference), he should find Newton's laws of motion to be valid. But from his point of view, the action of the wings of the bird and the reaction of the air on the bird appear to be in the same direction. Isn't this against Newton's 3rd law of motion?

Ok let me try to understand this..

If the man runs towards the bird at a higher speed, he will outrun the bird. So now the bird is chasing after the man.

If the bird is flying through the air, the force of the muscles flapping exerts the same force against the air through which the bird is flying. The air exerts same force on the bird, in opposite direction to the wings, thus creating lift, which is perpendicular to the bird.

The man exerts force on the air as he is running against it, while the air exerts the same amount of force against the man creating drag, which is parallel to the man

The man and the bird have nothing to do with each other, other than the fact that this air is exerting same force, of different magnitudes and directions, on a man and the bird
 
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  • #4
souvik shome said:
Let us assume a bird to be moving in a straight line with a velocity 'u' and a man to be chasing it with a velocity 'v' in the same direction. If v>u in magnitude, then the man will observe the bird to be moving towards him with a velocity 'v-u' in magnitude. However, the bird will still be flapping it's wings towards him.
Now as he is moving with a constant velocity (or in other words, as he is in an inertial frame of reference), he should find Newton's laws of motion to be valid. But from his point of view, the action of the wings of the bird and the reaction of the air on the bird appear to be in the same direction. Isn't this against Newton's 3rd law of motion?

The air reacting to the wings of the bird will be moving toward the 'chaser' at a faster velocity than the surrounding air which has not been disturbed. This indicates a force has been applied to it (more technically a very quick transfer of momentum, as velocity is constant) by the bird's wings.
 
  • #5
Air resistance is proportional to the relative velocity difference between the bird's motion and the surrounding air.

This is an invariant, irrespective of the velocity V the bird happens to have in some inertial observer system.
 

1. Is Newton's 3rd Law applicable to all situations?

Yes, Newton's 3rd Law is a fundamental principle of physics and applies to all situations, regardless of the scale or context.

2. Can Newton's 3rd Law be violated?

No, Newton's 3rd Law is a fundamental law of nature and cannot be violated. It has been repeatedly tested and verified through experiments and observations.

3. How does Newton's 3rd Law relate to everyday life?

Newton's 3rd Law explains the concept of action and reaction, where every action has an equal and opposite reaction. This can be observed in everyday activities such as walking, pushing a door, or throwing a ball.

4. Does Newton's 3rd Law only apply to objects in motion?

No, Newton's 3rd Law applies to all objects, whether they are in motion or at rest. It states that for every force applied on an object, there is an equal and opposite force acting back on the object.

5. What are some practical applications of Newton's 3rd Law?

Newton's 3rd Law has various practical applications, including rocket propulsion, car engines, and even sports such as swimming and rowing. It also plays a crucial role in understanding and predicting the motion of objects in space.

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