Newton's Third Law of Motion

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Woggles

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Newton's Third Law of Motion states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

My question is, if a space base laser is used to de-orbit space junk, would there be an equal push on the laser?

Thanks
 
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Mee_n_Mac

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Woggles":h42qviod said:
Newton's Third Law of Motion states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

My question is, if a space base laser is used to de-orbit space junk, would there be an equal push on the laser?

Thanks

There's a push on the laser just emitting the beam. Doesn't matter (pun not intended) if the beam hits anything. Throwing photons is akin to throwing baseballs ... just a lot, lot, lot lighter. ;)
 
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yevaud

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M_M's exactly correct. This is called, Momentum Transfer by Recoil Effect.
 
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