Newton's 3rd Law and electric charges

In summary, Newton's 3rd Law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This law applies to electric charges, where the force between two charged objects is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. This explains how charges behave towards each other, with opposite charges attracting and like charges repelling. The force between two charges can be calculated using Coulomb's Law, which is based on Newton's 3rd Law. Additionally, the distance between two electric charges affects the force between them, with the force decreasing as the distance increases. This law can be applied to different types of electric charges, as it states that the forces between them will always be equal and opposite.
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bgq
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Hi,

Is Newton's 3rd law applicable to electric charges?

I have a problem with a situation where two identical positive charges moving perpendicular to each other. The magnetic forces exerted by each one on the other have same magnitude but their directions are not opposite.
 
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  • #2
NIII does not hold for moving charges. The momentum of the electromagnetic fields changes for two moving charges, so the sum of their mechanical momentum is not conserved.
 
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  • #3
there is a Newton's third?
 

What is Newton's 3rd Law and how does it apply to electric charges?

Newton's 3rd Law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This applies to electric charges because when two charged objects interact, the force they exert on each other is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.

How does Newton's 3rd Law explain the behavior of electric charges?

Newton's 3rd Law explains that when two objects with opposite charges are brought near each other, they will attract each other due to the equal and opposite forces they exert on each other. Similarly, when two objects with the same charge are brought near each other, they will repel each other.

Can Newton's 3rd Law be used to calculate the force between two electric charges?

Yes, Newton's 3rd Law can be used to calculate the force between two electric charges. The force between two charges can be calculated using Coulomb's Law, which is based on Newton's 3rd Law.

How does the distance between two electric charges affect the force between them?

The force between two electric charges is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This means that as the distance between the charges increases, the force between them decreases.

Can Newton's 3rd Law be applied to different types of electric charges?

Yes, Newton's 3rd Law can be applied to different types of electric charges. It states that the forces between two charges will always be equal and opposite, regardless of the type of charges. This principle can be used to explain the behavior of both positive and negative charges.

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