Who is More Important for Physics: Newton or Einstein?

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The discussion centers on the comparative importance of Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein in the field of physics. Participants debate who made more significant contributions, with some arguing for Newton due to his foundational work that Einstein built upon. The conversation touches on the complexities of their legacies, including Newton's contentious relationship with contemporaries like Robert Hooke, who contributed to the understanding of gravity but received little credit. Humor is interspersed throughout, with lighthearted comments about hypothetical bar fights between the two physicists and playful remarks about personal preferences, such as liking one eye over the other. The thread also explores the nuances of scientific progress, emphasizing that advancements often build on previous discoveries, making it difficult to rank the two figures definitively. Overall, the dialogue reflects a mix of admiration for both scientists while acknowledging the collaborative nature of scientific advancement.
  • #31
zoobyshoe said:
(Shhhhh. Randallb thinks I am a gullible person taken in by a wise-cracker.)
Ok OK - so you're not gullible, it was your creative imagination cracking wise with yourself - & us.
So - keeping it quit just with us here, in your creative imagination
(what is Hawking marking on who's photos?)
 
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  • #32
Einstein is better than Newton since he even proved him wrong.
 
  • #33
Mattara said:
Einstein is better than Newton since he even proved him wrong.
Where exactly did Einstein “prove” Newton wrong?
Don’t include the modern idea that Newtonian gravity requires “instant” transmission.
Newton never claimed that – He was very specific in mathematically defining the force relationship of gravity between two masses and clearly stated that he was not proposing anything as to how the forces were connected between the two masses.
 
  • #34
RandallB said:
Where exactly did Einstein “prove” Newton wrong?
Don’t include the modern idea that Newtonian gravity requires “instant” transmission.
Newton never claimed that – He was very specific in mathematically defining the force relationship of gravity between two masses and clearly stated that he was not proposing anything as to how the forces were connected between the two masses.

That is exactly what I mean. Newton did claim that.
 
  • #35
Mattara said:
Newton did claim that.
Where? Do you have a quote or referance?
 
  • #36
chroot said:
I don't know about you guys, but I think if Newton and Einstein got in a bar fight, Newton would totally have won. I mean, it's so easy to pound on a pacifist.

- Warren
well, I don't know why I think we'd have trouble to realize who's the winner!(considering modern physics)
 
  • #37
did anyone see this movie

"E=mc2 Einstein and the world's most famous equation"

this movie starts with Faraday and finishes at Einstein,,showing that the base was laid by these guys..
 
  • #38
  • #39
FredGarvin said:
I like pie.
Mmmmm pie...:-p
I like \pi too..
 
  • #40
Hooke pwns them both.

Fear the Hooke
 
  • #41
Mattara said:
My bad

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/time/through.html

Also, Einstein proved that the normal equations does not work when dealing with high speeds.
Right as from your link "(Newton) admitted he could only describe it without understanding how it worked."

The idea that "normal equations" require 'instant' gravity is a modern requirement, that Newton never claimed.

As to that three way bar fight Hooke & Newton are in trouble if the pacifist brings his nuke.
 
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