Newton's Laws: Examples to Explore

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter ihatephysics
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Laws Newton's laws
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around examples illustrating Newton's Laws of Motion, specifically the 1st and 2nd Laws, with a brief mention of the 3rd Law. Participants share various scenarios to explore these laws in practical contexts.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that while sitting in a chair, standing up and pushing harder results in greater acceleration, illustrating Newton's 2nd Law.
  • Another participant provides an example of Newton's 3rd Law, describing the interaction between a finger and nostril when pressure is applied.
  • A participant humorously comments on the potential for injury in the context of the 3rd Law example.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not appear to reach a consensus on the best examples, and multiple viewpoints are presented without resolution.

Contextual Notes

Some examples may depend on specific conditions or interpretations of Newton's Laws, and the discussion does not delve into the mathematical formulations or broader implications of the laws.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in practical applications of Newton's Laws, including students and educators in physics or related fields.

ihatephysics
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Anyone have any really good examples for Newton's 1st and 2nd Laws?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I'm sure you can google-up a bunch of great examples in a few seconds.
 
How about:

As you sit in your chair, you are not moving violently about the room. Now, start standing up. If you push up twice as hard, you accelerate twice as fast.

Incredible, no?
 
Here's a really good example of Newton's 3.law:
Stick your finger in your nose. Notice that as the finger pushes on the nostril, the nostril squeezes back on the finger.
 
Seems like people might get hurt. :biggrin:
 

Similar threads

Undergrad 1st law of Newton as a special case of the 2nd law (historical aspect)
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
High School Newton's first law?
  • · Replies 62 ·
3
Replies
62
Views
4K
Undergrad Newton's 2nd Law confusion: mass times acceleration is not a force?
  • · Replies 39 ·
2
Replies
39
Views
4K
High School The application of Newton's laws to fluid equilibrium
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
2K
High School Newton's First Law -- Mistranslated for 3 centuries
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
4K
High School Newton's third law (equal and opposite force)
  • · Replies 40 ·
2
Replies
40
Views
4K
Undergrad Extending Newton's laws -- Is the concept of force still defined?
  • · Replies 35 ·
2
Replies
35
Views
5K
Insights How to Apply Newton’s Second Law to Variable Mass Systems
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
2K
High School Proof of inverse square law for gravitation?
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
3K
High School Newton's Third Law in space
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
3K