Question about analyzing forces

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter jaja1990
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Forces
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the analysis of forces between three objects, A, B, and C, in accordance with Newton's laws. Object A exerts a force of 60N on Object B, while Object B exerts a force of 30N back on Object A, which violates Newton's Third Law of Motion that states forces must be equal and opposite. The correct interpretation reveals that if A pushes B with 60N, B must push back with 60N, not 30N. The conclusion drawn is that the initial problem setup is invalid due to this contradiction.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's Laws of Motion
  • Basic knowledge of force vectors
  • Familiarity with the concept of action and reaction forces
  • Ability to analyze force interactions between multiple objects
NEXT STEPS
  • Study Newton's Third Law of Motion in detail
  • Learn about vector addition in force analysis
  • Explore examples of force interactions in multi-body systems
  • Review common misconceptions in physics related to forces
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, educators teaching Newtonian mechanics, and anyone interested in understanding the principles of force interactions in physical systems.

jaja1990
Messages
27
Reaction score
0
In a try to test my knowledge of Newton's laws, I have posed the following question to myself.

Object A | Object B | Object C

Object A pushes on B by an amount of 60N

Object B pushes on A by an amount of 30N

Object C pushes on B by an amount of 10N

What is the resultant force of each object?

My attempt:

(The arrows indicate direction.)

Considering A and B:
A pushes on B by 60, so F_AonB = 60→
B reacts on A by 60, so F_BonA = 60←
B pushes on A by 30, so F_BonA becomes 90←
A reacts on B by 30, so F_AonB becomes 90→

Considering B and C:
C pushes on B by 10, so F_ConB = 10←
B reacts on C by 10, so F_BonC = 10→

Considering A and B (after considering C on B):
B pushes on A by 100, so F_BonA = 100←
A reacts on B by 100, so F_AonB = 100→

Conclusion:
A pushes 100→
B pushes 100← and 10→
C pushes 10←

I have been informed that the solution is invalid, and that the question itself is wrong. Can you tell me why the problem is wrong/invalid?
Someone tried to explain to me, but I didn't really understand.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
jaja1990 said:
I have been informed that the solution is invalid, and that the question itself is wrong. Can you tell me why the problem is wrong/invalid?
For one thing:
Object A pushes on B by an amount of 60N

Object B pushes on A by an amount of 30N
This contradicts Newton's 3rd law.

A and B will exert equal and opposite forces on each other.
 
Thanks for the simple answer.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
3K
  • · Replies 35 ·
2
Replies
35
Views
4K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
916
  • · Replies 29 ·
Replies
29
Views
3K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K