Does Newton's or Galileo's first law depend on gravity?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on whether Newton's and Galileo's first laws of motion depend on gravity. Participants explore the implications of gravitational forces on the motion of objects, particularly in the context of horizontal, upward, and downward slopes.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that Galileo's observations of rolling balls on sloped planes imply that gravity affects motion, leading to the conclusion that an object moves with constant velocity on a horizontal plane when no external forces are present.
  • Another participant argues that Newton's first law does not inherently involve gravity, stating that gravity is merely one example of an external force and that the law should be understood in its precise terms without the influence of gravity.
  • A different participant asserts that Newton's laws do not depend on Newtonian gravity, while expressing uncertainty about Galileo's stance.
  • One participant reflects on Galileo's conclusion regarding constant velocity in the absence of force, questioning the relationship between Newton's first law and mass, while acknowledging their understanding of the incorrectness of that assertion.
  • Another participant expresses frustration over perceived redundant questions, suggesting that the inquiry may not be respectful of others' time.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that Newton's first law does not depend on gravity, but there is contention regarding the implications of Galileo's conclusions and the role of gravity in these laws. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing views.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying interpretations of the laws of motion, with some focusing on the role of gravity and others emphasizing the laws' independence from gravitational forces. There are also unresolved questions about the relationship between mass and Newton's first law.

parshyaa
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Does Newton's or galileo's first law depends on gravity ?
  • Galileo said that ball rolling on a downward sloping plane speeds up while ball rolling on upward sloping plane slows down therefore he concluded that ball remains with constant velocity(unaccelarated) on a horizontal plane
  • here gravity is the reason for increase or decrease in velocity on a downward or upward sloping plane because there is a component of 'g' ie gcos(theta) along or in opposite direction of the motion of ball , therefore ball will be in horizontal motion with constant velocity if there is no external force (except gravity) it means we will not include gravity force in the total force acting on a body .
  • Therefore Newton's first law will be , if the total force acting on a body (not including gravitational force in total force) equals zero then object will move with constant velocity or remains unaccelarated(a=0)
  • Then why in the example of book on a table, where a = 0, we take W - N(contact force) =0 why not only N = 0(here W - N is downwards)
 
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parshyaa said:
  • Therefore Newton's first law will be , if the total force acting on a body (not including gravitational force in total force) equals zero then object will move with constant velocity or remains unaccelarated(a=0)
No, Newton's first law does not say anything about gravity because it has, fundamentally, nothing to do with gravity which is simply one specific case of an external force acting on a body. You should state laws precisely if you want to understand them. YOU are the one who brought gravity into Newton's first law and then you asked about the law depending on gravity. Simply read the law as stated and you would have answered your own question.
 
Newtons 3 laws don't depend on Newtonian gravity. I don't know about Galileo.

parshyaa said:
why not only N = 0
Because ##N\ne 0##. You cannot change that, it is a measurable physical fact.
 
I know that Newtons first law do not depends on gravity but I have observed that galileo concluded that if there is no force, object In motion will move with constant velocity. He concluded it from his experiment or observation of rolling balls from downward and upward sloping planes, he observed that velocity of a ball increases when it moves on downward sloping plane and it decreases on upward sloping plane
(Why speed increases or decreases on upward or downward sloping plane ?
Ans : because of componet of g )
From this he concluded that ball rolling on horizontal plane will neither speed up or slow down means it will remain constant or unaccelarated this conclusion will be valid only when we will remove every force (except gravity)
Then why can't I say that Newtons first law does depends on mass , I know that this is wrong but I want to know why
 
parshyaa said:
I know that Newtons first law do not depends on gravity
Then don't waste everyone's time by asking questions that you already know the answer to.

This thread is closed. Please be more respectful of others time in future questions.
 
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