Difference between revisions of "Newton's Laws of Motion"
(New page: Isaac Newton's 3 laws of motion form the basis for classical mechanics. They are: 1) An object in motion will remain in motion unless acted upon by an outside force. An object a...) |
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[[Isaac Newton]]'s 3 laws of motion form the basis for [[classical mechanics]]. They are: | [[Isaac Newton]]'s 3 laws of motion form the basis for [[classical mechanics]]. They are: | ||
| − | 1) An object in motion will remain in motion unless acted upon by an | + | 1) An object in motion will remain in motion in a straight line unless acted upon by an external force. An object at rest will remain at rest unless acted upon by an external force. (Or, alternatively, an object's velocity remains constant unless the object is acted upon by an external force.) |
| − | 2) The rate of change of an object's [[momentum]] is equal to the net force acting on it (<math>F = | + | 2) The rate of change of an object's [[momentum]] is equal to the net force acting on it (<math> \vec F = d{\vec p}/dt </math>, sometimes written as <math> \vec F = m \times \vec a</math> when mass can be assumed to be constant). |
3) For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction; or, more precisely, the total momentum of any isolated system is always constant. | 3) For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction; or, more precisely, the total momentum of any isolated system is always constant. | ||
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
| − | The first law defines an [[ | + | The first law defines an [[inertia]]l [[frame of reference]] as one which is acted upon by no outside forces. In general, inertial frames are far easier to understand conceptually and deal with mathematically than accelerated frames. |
| − | The second law relates force and [[momentum]]. Mathematically, | + | The second law relates force and [[momentum]]. Mathematically, <math> \vec F = d{\vec p}/dt = d(m \times \vec v)/dt = m \times d{\vec v}/dt + \vec v \times dm/dt</math>. Usually <math>dm/dt=0</math>, so the law is simplified to <math> \vec F = m \times d{\vec v}/dt = m \times \vec a</math>, or mass times acceleration. A notable exception is [[rocket]] motion, where <math>dm/dt</math> is not 0, and so <math> \vec F = m \times \vec a</math> does not apply. Note that the quantities '''F''', '''p''', '''v''', and '''a''' are all [[vector]] quantities—that is, they have an associated direction as well as a magnitude. In general, the second law gives a way to predict the motion of an object by summing all the forces acting on that object. |
| − | The third law states that momentum is always conserved. If one object imparts a momentum p<sub>0</sub> on another, the first object's momentum will change by -p<sub>0</sub>. | + | The third law states that momentum is always conserved. If one object imparts a momentum p<sub>0</sub> on another, the first object's momentum will change by -p<sub>0</sub>. This can be viewed as a consequence of [[Noether's Theorem]]; the associated [[symmetry]] is that the laws of physics do not change under spatial translations (that is, the laws of physics are the same everywhere). |
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| + | [[Category:Physics]] | ||
Revision as of 16:41, July 13, 2016
Isaac Newton's 3 laws of motion form the basis for classical mechanics. They are:
1) An object in motion will remain in motion in a straight line unless acted upon by an external force. An object at rest will remain at rest unless acted upon by an external force. (Or, alternatively, an object's velocity remains constant unless the object is acted upon by an external force.)
2) The rate of change of an object's momentum is equal to the net force acting on it (
, sometimes written as 
when mass can be assumed to be constant).
3) For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction; or, more precisely, the total momentum of any isolated system is always constant.
Explanation
The first law defines an inertial frame of reference as one which is acted upon by no outside forces. In general, inertial frames are far easier to understand conceptually and deal with mathematically than accelerated frames.
The second law relates force and momentum. Mathematically, 
. Usually 
, so the law is simplified to 
, or mass times acceleration. A notable exception is rocket motion, where 
is not 0, and so does not apply. Note that the quantities F, p, v, and a are all vector quantities—that is, they have an associated direction as well as a magnitude. In general, the second law gives a way to predict the motion of an object by summing all the forces acting on that object.
The third law states that momentum is always conserved. If one object imparts a momentum p0 on another, the first object's momentum will change by -p0. This can be viewed as a consequence of Noether's Theorem; the associated symmetry is that the laws of physics do not change under spatial translations (that is, the laws of physics are the same everywhere).
