I know according to newtons 3rd law (every action causes a reaction) that two magnets facing each other N-N will cause a opposing force on each one. Conservation of momentum holds obviously because one magnets momentum is cancelled by the other one. However in Newtonian mechanics this action causes a reaction is usually considered instant.
So how is momentum transferred between magnets on small timescales or large distances where the momentum transfer or force take's nanoseconds, say 1 second to traverse the space between the magnets (earth to the moon almost)? I know supposedly the magnetic force is carried by virtual photons, so is the momentum first transferred to the virtual photons then when the virtual photon interacts with the other magnets field, the momentum is somehow transferred to it's virtual photons which make up its field and then the to the magnet itself causing it to move?
Really confused on this one, lol, I have a bunch of ideas of how it might happen, some involve bubbles analogy's, lol, but have no idea which is right or even close to right.
So how is momentum transferred between magnets on small timescales or large distances where the momentum transfer or force take's nanoseconds, say 1 second to traverse the space between the magnets (earth to the moon almost)? I know supposedly the magnetic force is carried by virtual photons, so is the momentum first transferred to the virtual photons then when the virtual photon interacts with the other magnets field, the momentum is somehow transferred to it's virtual photons which make up its field and then the to the magnet itself causing it to move?
Really confused on this one, lol, I have a bunch of ideas of how it might happen, some involve bubbles analogy's, lol, but have no idea which is right or even close to right.