Second Law Pairs, Third Law Pairs, or Neither?

In summary, the Second Law of Motion states that an object's acceleration is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. Second Law Pairs are action-reaction pairs that occur when one object exerts a force on another object and the second object exerts an equal but opposite force on the first object. An example of a Second Law Pair is a person pushing a cart. The Third Law of Motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Third Law Pairs are action-reaction pairs that occur when one object exerts a force on a second object, and the second object exerts an equal but opposite force on the first object. The main difference between Second Law Pairs
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Homework Statement


All of the force pairs described below are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. Which of the pairs are Newton's third-law pairs, which are second-law pairs, and which are neither?
1. A baseball pushes on a window breaking it; the window pushes back on the baseball
2. A team of dogs pulls a sled, moving it; the sled pulls backward on the dogs.
3. A jet's engines thrust it forward; air friction pushes it back.
4. The Earth attracts a stone; the stone attracts the earth.
5. A car exerts a forward force on a trailer; the trailer tugs backward on the car.
6. Gravity tugs downward on a box sitting on the ground; the ground pushes up on the box.

Homework Equations


Newton's Second and Third Laws

The Attempt at a Solution


1. 3rd Law Pair because the action force is acting on the window, while the reaction force is acting on the ball.
2. 3rd Law Pair because the action force is on the sled, reaction force is on the dogs.
3. Neither because the forces are acting on one object (which eliminates 3rd law pair) and the object is still moving, so it can't be second law.
4. 3rd Law Pair because the Earth attracts the stone (action force) and the stone attracts the Earth (reaction force).
5. 3rd Law Pair because the action force acts on the trailer and the reaction force acts on the car.
6. 2nd Law Pair because the forces are related to one object, and come from different sources.

For which number(s) is my logic wrong? Am I close for most?
 
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  • #2


Your logic is correct for all of the pairs except for number 3. The forces in this pair are still an example of Newton's third law because the jet's engines are pushing on the air, and the air is pushing back on the jet. The fact that the jet is still moving does not change the fact that these are equal and opposite forces acting on different objects. Therefore, the correct answer would be 3rd Law Pair for all of the pairs.
 

Related to Second Law Pairs, Third Law Pairs, or Neither?

1. What is the Second Law of Motion and what are Second Law Pairs?

The Second Law of Motion, also known as the Law of Acceleration, states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. Second Law Pairs are action-reaction pairs that occur when one object exerts a force on another object and the second object exerts an equal but opposite force on the first object.

2. Can you give an example of a Second Law Pair?

An example of a Second Law Pair is a person pushing a cart. The person exerts a force on the cart, causing it to accelerate, while the cart exerts an equal but opposite force on the person, pushing them in the opposite direction.

3. What is the Third Law of Motion and what are Third Law Pairs?

The Third Law of Motion, also known as the Law of Action and Reaction, states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Third Law Pairs are action-reaction pairs that occur when one object exerts a force on a second object, and the second object exerts an equal but opposite force on the first object.

4. How are Second Law Pairs and Third Law Pairs different?

The main difference between Second Law Pairs and Third Law Pairs is the type of forces involved. Second Law Pairs involve forces between two different objects, while Third Law Pairs involve forces between two objects of the same kind. Additionally, Second Law Pairs are responsible for an object's acceleration, while Third Law Pairs do not cause any change in an object's motion.

5. Can there be situations where neither Second Law Pairs nor Third Law Pairs are present?

Yes, there can be situations where neither Second Law Pairs nor Third Law Pairs are present. This can occur when the forces acting on an object are not equal and opposite, or when the objects involved are not interacting with each other. For example, a book sitting on a table does not have any Second or Third Law Pairs because the forces acting on it are balanced and it is not interacting with any other object.

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