- #1
Libohove90
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I am trying to fully understand Newton's Third Law. I am getting there, but there are a few examples that sort of have me scratching my head for a bit.
Me and a cart are stationary, then I decide to push the cart. I exert a force on the cart and simultaneously, the cart exerts an equal and opposite force on me.
If this occurred in space, the cart and I would have went in opposite directions after the push (conservation of momentum), but on the Earth, this is not apparent. I realize the friction of the floor has a role here. Why is it that both the cart and I accelerate in the same direction as I push it?
Can someone clear this up a bit for me? I would gratefully appreciate informative replies :)
Me and a cart are stationary, then I decide to push the cart. I exert a force on the cart and simultaneously, the cart exerts an equal and opposite force on me.
If this occurred in space, the cart and I would have went in opposite directions after the push (conservation of momentum), but on the Earth, this is not apparent. I realize the friction of the floor has a role here. Why is it that both the cart and I accelerate in the same direction as I push it?
Can someone clear this up a bit for me? I would gratefully appreciate informative replies :)