Analytical formulation of Newton's Laws

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1. Feb 23, 2015

andro

Greetings historians of physics!

Newton's Principia is written almost entirely using geometrical proofs and diagrams, barely using any calculus at all. It is thought that Newton was reluctant to use his calculus in this work, fearing that it would undermine its credibility and reception, since the calculus was heavily criticised at the time as being based on philosophically unsound vanishing departed infinitesimal quantities.

Further to this, we think of Newton as one of the founding fathers of modern science, yet the Principia is by no means a modern book. The Laws are stated in words, and there is not a single equation in the entire work. There is no analytical formulation presented at all. Newton laid out the physics of mechanics, but not the analytical approach. Many people are surprised by this, equating in their mind the equation F = ma as being Newton's work. The principle is, but not the mathematical statement.

Currently, I am trying to determine who first put forward the analytical formulation of Newton's Mechanics. I have a feeling it was Euler in his Mechanica of 1736. I am actually sure it was him, but reading the work so far, I have not come across the section (it's a dense book, and in Latin). [Perhaps I had better just keep on reading!]

Does anybody know the exact history of this matter? Was there anybody preceding Euler in this area?

2. Feb 24, 2015

nasu

3. Feb 24, 2015

andro

Of course - Euler formulated Newton analytically. The Mechanica is calculus based. It is Newton that does not use his own calculus in the Principia. The question concerns who was the first to use a modern mathematical approach to expounding Newton.

As to the English translation mentioned, it's useful but full of errors and uncorrected typos (with all due respect to the translator). Scientific Latin is a difficult language to make translations from.

4. Feb 24, 2015

jeffery_winkle

Laplace wrote about Newtonian mechanics. I agree that Newton was a transitional figure. Keep in mind that if your work inspires a paradigm shift in our way of thinking, you yourself had to have lived and worked before that shift occurred. Also, remember that Newton wrote a million words on alchemy.

5. Feb 24, 2015

andro

Yes indeed. Laplace was born in 1749, well after Euler's Mechanica of 1736. He used a strong calculus base for his formulation of classical mechanics, and was indeed. another man of great genius.

What I am trying to get at is who first wrote out N II as F = ma? There are hints that it may have actually been Torricelli, a student of Galileo, and this of course before Newton.