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Is violation of Newton's second law possible?
1Theoretical Physics Research Institute, Melbourne 3163, Australia. a.ignatiev@ritp.org
Physical Review Letters
|March 16, 2007
Summary
Modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND) may manifest terrestrially. Around equinoxes, two locations on Earth might exhibit spontaneous acceleration, suggesting a violation of Newton's second law, potentially testable experimentally.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Astrophysics
- Classical Mechanics
Background:
- Astrophysical observations often invoke dark matter to explain phenomena inconsistent with classical mechanics.
- Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) proposes that classical mechanics may break down at extremely low accelerations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) manifestations in terrestrial settings for the first time.
- To investigate potential violations of Newton's second law in Earth-based scenarios.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of MOND effects in non-astrophysical contexts.
- Identification of specific terrestrial conditions and locations for potential MOND effects.
Main Results:
- A novel effect is reported: spontaneous acceleration of static bodies at two specific locations on Earth.
- These locations are predicted to emerge around each equinox date.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest a potential violation of Newton's second law in terrestrial settings.
- Preliminary estimates indicate the feasibility of an experimental search for this predicted effect.
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