The third law of Newton is always fulfilled?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the application of Newton's third law in the context of charged particles moving in perpendicular directions, particularly focusing on the forces exerted by magnetic and electric fields.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking, Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore whether Newton's third law holds in scenarios involving charged particles and their interactions through magnetic and electric fields. Questions arise about the nature of forces acting on each particle and the implications of their motion.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing examination of the conditions under which Newton's third law may or may not apply, with some participants asserting that it fails in certain configurations while others argue for its validity when considering electric fields. Multiple interpretations of the situation are being explored.

Contextual Notes

Participants are discussing the implications of magnetic and electric fields in relation to charged particles, questioning the assumptions about force interactions in specific configurations. The complexity of the scenario, including the roles of different forces, is acknowledged but not resolved.

chuy
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Is certain that this law not fulfilled in the case of two charged particles moving in perpendicular directions (the force exerted in the particle A by the magnetic field of B is not equal to the exerted one in B by the magnetic field of A) ? Why?

Bye!
 
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Why do you think it wouldn't hold?
 
of course it is

How would the third law not apply? Sure, the particles would have motion different than uncharged particles, but if you consider the magnetic and electrical forces, everything works.
 
Indeed Newtons 3. law fails this situation. If you have 2 charged particles moving perpendicular like in the following config.

A
*->

* B
| (x) [itex]\mathbf{B}[/itex]
v

You can look at it as currents in those directions. Then A will create a magnetic field given by the righthand rule. The direction of the B-field from A at B is as shown into the page (x). If particle B (with a charge q) have the velocity [itex]\mathbf{u}[/itex], then the force on B from A will be

[tex]\mathbf{F}=q(\mathbf{u}\times\mathbf{B})[/tex]

But there is no magnetic field from the charge B at exactly that spot of A, so there won't be a force from B acting on A there, but there is a force acting on B from A. And here is the failure of Newtons 3. law.
 
What about the electric field?
 
wxrocks said:
What about the electric field?
Newton's third law certianly applies here.
 
Then, if we also consider electric field, Isn't violated the law? How?

Greetings!
 
There will be an electric field not matter what, otherwise it wouldn't be called an electric charge. But there will also be a magnetic field if they are moving, with an electric field, obeying the 3rd law of Newton, but it's the force due to the magnetic field that fails the 3rd law.
 

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