Reciprocity

claimed by ksomu3

This topic covers why forces on each other are equal.

The Main Idea

Reciprocity is the idea that the force object 1 exerts on object 2 is the same as the force object 2 exerts on object 1. This idea comes from Newton's Third Law of Motion. Forces are results of interactions. If i put my hand on a table, I am exerting a contact force on the table, but at the same time the table is using a exerting force on me. Though it seems like I am putting in more effort, the forces are the same. Forces come in pairs. The two forces are called "action" and "reaction" pairs. When forces are in these pairs, the magnitude of the two forces equal each other. However, in vector form, the two forces would be in opposite directions of each other, so one force would have a negative sign on it.

A Mathematical Model

Here is a formulaic representation of reciprocity. F12=-F21. This shows that

[math]\displaystyle{ {\mathbf{F}}_{12}= {\mathbf{-F}}_{21}\; This is the equation in vector format. When the vector of one force is in one direction. Usually, the vector is in the other direction; ::\lt math\gt \vec{\mathbf{F}}_{12}= vec{\mathbf{F}}_{21}; This equation on the left side. shows that object one is acting on object 2; What are the mathematical equations that allow us to model this topic. For example \lt math\gt {\frac{d\vec{p}}{dt}}_{system} = \vec{F}_{net} }[/math] where p is the momentum of the system and F is the net force from the surroundings.

Examples

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Connectedness

1. The first physics I ever learned was Newtons laws. Before heading into any science class, I always thought, every reaction gets an equal and opposite reaction. I didnt really understand it. That is a fundamental principle that we use in almost all physics problems. It has been test questions and homework questions. The thing that intrigues me the most is how an ant can be pushing against a rhino and though the rhino is so much bigger, they are still exerting the same force.
2. I am an industrial engineering major and though there is very minimal use of physics in that field, I do believe it is something that will help us go about our days knowing that force isn't how much effort you put in but about the action reaction pairs.
3. Forces are something we deal with everyday. Everything we touch, me typing this page right now is all the result of forces.

History

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See also

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