In Section 1.5 we proved that Newton's third law implies | StudySoup

Textbook Solutions for Classical Mechanics

Chapter 1 Problem 1.31

Question

In Section 1.5 we proved that Newton's third law implies the conservation of momentum. Prove the converse, that if the law of conservation of momentum applies to every possible group of particles, then the interparticle forces must obey the third law. [Hint: However many particles your system contains, you can focus your attention on just two of them. (Call them 1 and 2.) The law of conservation of momentum says that if there are no external forces on this pair of particles, then their total momentum must be constant. Use this to prove that \(\mathbf{F}_{12}=-\mathbf{F}_{21}\). ]

Solution

Step 1 of 3

Newton's third law says that the action and reaction forces have the same magnitude but the direction of the forces opposite.

Let us assume the two systems. The system 1 has mass  and system 2 has . When the two systems interact with each other then their momentum changes.

Let’s us assume the change in the momentum of system 1 is  and change in momentum of system 2 is .

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Title Classical Mechanics 0 
Author John R Taylor
ISBN 9781891389221

In Section 1.5 we proved that Newton's third law implies

Chapter 1 textbook questions

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