nLab Isaac Newton

Context

Physics

physics, mathematical physics, philosophy of physics

Surveys, textbooks and lecture notes


theory (physics), model (physics)

experiment, measurement, computable physics

The founder of the science of physics (mechanics) as a science rooted in mathematics, and of differential calculus.

Selected writings

Laying the foundations of modern physics (in contrast to the previous natural philosophy) by what came to be known as Newton's laws of motion and Newtonian mechanics:

Quotes

On Nature conformable to herself:

“For Nature is very consonant and conformable to her self… For we must learn from the phaenomena of nature what bodies attract one another, and what are the laws and properties of the attraction, before we enquire the cause by which the attraction is perform’d, the attractions of gravity, magnetism and electricity, react to very sensible distances, and so have been observed by vulgar eyes, and there may be others which reach to so small distances as hitherto escape observation; and perhaps electrical attraction may react to such small distances, even without being excited by friction.” [Opticks]

category: people

Last revised on July 8, 2023 at 11:37:02. See the history of this page for a list of all contributions to it.