Single Idea 17547

[catalogued under 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]