Newton's 1st, 2nd, & 3rd laws of motion

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SUMMARY

This discussion provides a comprehensive analysis of Newton's three laws of motion through various real-life examples. The first law is illustrated by a shirt remaining on the floor and a baseball rolling until it hits a fence, demonstrating the concept of inertia. The second law, expressed as F=ma, is applied in scenarios involving impulse, such as a person jumping off a diving board. The third law is exemplified through interactions like ice-skating collisions and swimming, highlighting action-reaction pairs. Each example confirms the laws' applicability in everyday situations.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's Laws of Motion
  • Familiarity with basic physics concepts such as force and inertia
  • Knowledge of impulse and momentum (I = Δp = FΔt)
  • Basic understanding of fluid dynamics in relation to swimming
NEXT STEPS
  • Study detailed applications of Newton's Laws in sports physics
  • Explore the concept of inertia in various physical systems
  • Learn about impulse and momentum in collision scenarios
  • Investigate fluid resistance and its effects on motion in swimming
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, educators teaching Newton's Laws, and anyone interested in applying physics concepts to real-world scenarios.

xLuvux
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a) A shirt left on your bedroom floor is still there after 2 days. (Newton's 1 law)

b) You run into your friend while ice-skating, & you both fall in opposite directions. (3rd law)

c) The horse you're riding trips on a tree stump & stops quickly, & you fly forward. (1st law)

d) A baseball continues rolling until it hits the fence. (1st law)

e) You hit a tennis ball w/ a tennis racket & the tennis ball sails over the net. (3rd law)

f) A person jumps off a diving board. (3rd law)

g) A swimmer swims through the water. (3rd law)

h) F=ma (Newton's 2nd law) Can someone please check if I'm correct. Thank you. :smile:
 
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There is more than one correct answer here. Here is my take:

xLuvux said:
a) A shirt left on your bedroom floor is still there after 2 days. (Newton's 1 law)
No net force: First law.
b) You run into your friend while ice-skating, & you both fall in opposite directions. (3rd law)
Net force down + collision: Second and third laws.
c) The horse you're riding trips on a tree stump & stops quickly, & you fly forward. (1st law)
No net force (ignoring gravity): First law.
d) A baseball continues rolling until it hits the fence. (1st law)
No net force (ignoring friction): First law.
e) You hit a tennis ball w/ a tennis racket & the tennis ball sails over the net. (3rd law)
Impulse imparted to ball by racket: I = Δp = FΔt; Second law.
f) A person jumps off a diving board. (3rd law)
Impulse imparted to diver by diving board: I = Δp = FΔt; Diver goes up and gravity brings diver down. Second law.
g) A swimmer swims through the water. (3rd law)
Swimmer's body pushes back on water moving water backward and swimmer forward; swimmer meets fluid resistance exactly equal to push of swimmer's body on water; 0 net force so swimmer moves at constant speed through water. First and third laws apply.
h) F=ma (Newton's 2nd law)
Second law if f≠0, but first law if f = 0;AM
 
Andrew Mason said:
There is more than one correct answer here. Here is my take:

No net force: First law.
Net force down + collision: Second and third laws.
No net force (ignoring gravity): First law.
No net force (ignoring friction): First law.
Impulse imparted to ball by racket: I = Δp = FΔt; Second law.
Impulse imparted to diver by diving board: I = Δp = FΔt; Diver goes up and gravity brings diver down. Second law.
Swimmer's body pushes back on water moving water backward and swimmer forward; swimmer meets fluid resistance exactly equal to push of swimmer's body on water; 0 net force so swimmer moves at constant speed through water. First and third laws apply.
Second law if f≠0, but first law if f = 0;


AM

Thank you.
 

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