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Single Idea 17018

[filed under theme 27. Natural Reality / A. Classical Physics / 1. Mechanics / b. Laws of motion ]

Full Idea

Law 2: A change in motion is proportional to the motive force impressed and takes place along the straight line in which that force is impressed.

Gist of Idea

2: Change of motion is proportional to the force

Source

Isaac Newton (Principia Mathematica [1687], Axioms)

Book Ref

Newton,Isaac: 'Philosophical Writings' [CUP 2004], p.71


A Reaction

This gives the equation 'force = mass x acceleration', where the mass is the constant needed for the equation of proportion. Effectively mass is just the value of a proportion.


The 10 ideas with the same theme [basic principles constraining all movement]:

If something is pushed, it pushes back [Aristotle]
Galileo mathematised movement, and revealed its invariable component - acceleration [Galileo, by Meillassoux]
Descartes said there was conservation of 'quantity of motion' [Descartes, by Papineau]
Newton's Third Law implies the conservation of momentum [Newton, by Papineau]
Inertia rejects the Aristotelian idea of things having natural states, to which they return [Newton, by Alexander,P]
1: Bodies rest, or move in straight lines, unless acted on by forces [Newton]
3: All actions of bodies have an equal and opposite reaction [Newton]
2: Change of motion is proportional to the force [Newton]
Galileo refuted the Aristotelian theory that heavier objects fall faster [Okasha]
In modern physics the first and second laws of motion (unlike the third) fail at extremes [Ingthorsson]