dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaThe relation between momentum conservation and Newton's third law revisited
| Authors | Rodolfo A. Diaz, William J. Herrera |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0405099 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0405099 |
| Journal | Revista Mexicana de Fisica E 51 N. 2 (2005) 99-101 |
Abstract
Under certain conditions usually fulfilled in classical mechanics, the principle of conservation of linear momentum and Newton's third law are equivalent. However, the demonstration of this fact is usually incomplete in textbooks. We shall show here that to demonstrate the equivalence, we require the explicit use of the principle of superposition contained in Newton's second law. On the other hand, under some additional conditions the combined laws of conservation of linear and angular momentum, are equivalent to Newton's third law with central forces. The conditions for such equivalence apply in many scenarios of classical mechanics; once again the principle of superposition contained in Newton's second law is the clue.
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"abstract": "Under certain conditions usually fulfilled in classical mechanics, the\nprinciple of conservation of linear momentum and Newton\u0027s third law are\nequivalent. However, the demonstration of this fact is usually incomplete in\ntextbooks. We shall show here that to demonstrate the equivalence, we require\nthe explicit use of the principle of superposition contained in Newton\u0027s second\nlaw. On the other hand, under some additional conditions the combined laws of\nconservation of linear and angular momentum, are equivalent to Newton\u0027s third\nlaw with central forces. The conditions for such equivalence apply in many\nscenarios of classical mechanics; once again the principle of superposition\ncontained in Newton\u0027s second law is the clue.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0405099",
"authors": [
"Rodolfo A. Diaz",
"William J. Herrera"
],
"categories": [
"physics.class-ph",
"physics.gen-ph"
],
"journal_ref": "Revista Mexicana de Fisica E 51 N. 2 (2005) 99-101",
"title": "The relation between momentum conservation and Newton\u0027s third law revisited",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0405099"
},
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