View Full Version : Pairs of forces
Evil dead
Mar 19, 2007, 10:53 AM
I do not understand this. Newtons 3rd Law claims every force is met with another opposite and equal force.
Why then when I punched a spackle wall it breaks?
Capuchin
Mar 19, 2007, 11:27 AM
I don't understand how you're using newton's third law to argue that it shouldn't.
Evil dead
Mar 19, 2007, 11:51 AM
Wait am I mixed up?
It says that every force has an opposite that is the same size and magnitude. How would you prove this?
Capuchin
Mar 19, 2007, 12:19 PM
Yes... but that has nothing to do with the wall breaking. You hit the board with a force greater than the materials strength. Thus it breaks.
The material exerts the same but opposite force on your hand, but your hand doesn't break because it's stronger..
I don't understand what you're confused about :)
Evil dead
Mar 19, 2007, 01:02 PM
Thank you very much. That was such a simple explanation, when my teacher talked about it I was baffled.