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Single Idea 17547

[from 'Principia Mathematica' by Isaac Newton, in 27. Natural Reality / A. Classical Physics / 1. Mechanics / c. Forces ]

Full Idea

Newton introduced a very new and strange hypothesis by assuming a force that acted over a long distance.

Gist of Idea

Newton's idea of force acting over a long distance was very strange

Source

comment on Isaac Newton (Principia Mathematica [1687]) by Werner Heisenberg - Physics and Philosophy 06

Book Reference

Heisenberg,Werner: 'Physics and Philosophy' [Penguin 1989], p.83


A Reaction

Why would a force that acted over a short distance be any less mysterious?

Related Idea

Idea 17548 Maxwell introduced real fields, which transferred forces from point to point [Heisenberg]