The Role of Inertial Force in Energy Exchanges
| Scientific Paper | |
|---|---|
| Title | The Role of Inertial Force in Energy Exchanges |
| Author(s) | Robert L Carroll |
| Keywords | inertial force, energy exchanges, matter |
| Published | 1990 |
| Journal | Galilean Electrodynamics |
| Volume | 1 |
| Number | 1 |
| Pages | 7-14 |
Abstract
The simplest concept of physics is that of the equality of the forces of action and reaction. If two ojects interact by contact, an equality of magnitudes between the applied and inertial forces is required. The applied force does work upon the object with which it is in contact. The inertial force, it is thought, does no work. The problem is how to define which force is the one applied and which object exerts the inertial force. In the absence of an external reference frame, we can say the second object was at rest when it was struck by the first. Therefore the inertial force was generated by the second object. The viewpoint that the second object was struck by the first is just as valid, but requires that the inertial force should be generated by the first object. Since it is impossible to define which force is inertial, and which is not, we abandon the concept that the inertial force does no work. The analysis then leads to the internal energy of matter.