Abstract
Although the laws of Newtonian mechanics are now acknowledged to be only approximately correct, classical mechanics is still the tool used by all save the nuclear physicists and the astronomers. No apology should be needed, therefore, for an investigation of the axioms of Newtonian mechanics. The fact that these axioms are not in exact accord with physical experience does not in any way imply that they cannot be stated clearly, precisely, operationally, and without internal contradiction. It is the aim of this paper to develop an axiom system that meets these standards.
[The Philosophical Magazine, Ser. 7, 38, 888–905 (1947)].
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Anding, E., ‘Koordinaten und Zeit’, Encyklopädie der Mathematischen Wissenschaften, vi, Section 2, Part 1: 2–9, (Leipzig, 1901–1908).
Appell, P., ‘Sur la notion d’axes fixes et de mouvement absolu’, Comptes rendus, clxvi, 513–516(1918).
Filon, L. N. G., ‘Mass and Force in Newtonian Mechanics’, Mathematical Gazette, xxii, 9–16 (1938).
Lange, L., ‘Über der wissenschaftliche Fassung der Galileisehen Beharrungsgezetzes’, Wundt’s Philosophischen Studien, ii, 266–297, 539–545 (1885).
Lange, L., ‘Das Inertialsystem vor dem Forum der Naturforschung’, ibid. xx, 1–63 (1902).
Le Roux, J., ‘Les systemes de reference a gravitation apparente’, Comptes rendus, clxxxviii, 1376–1378 (1929).
Mach, Ernst, ‘The Science of Mechanics’, (5th English edition) (La Salle: Open Court Publishing Co., 1942).
Muirhead, F., ‘The Laws of Motion’, Phil. Mag (5), xxiii, 472–489 (1887).
Narlikar, V. V., ‘The Concept and Determination of Mass in Newtonian Mechanics’, Phil. Mag. (7), xxvii, 33–36 (1939).
Pendse, C. G., ‘A Note on Definition and Determination of Mass in Newtonian Mechanics’, Phil. Mag. (7), xxiv, 1012–1022 (1937).
Pendse, C. G., ‘A Further Note...’, ibid (7), xxvii, 51–61 (1939).
Pendse, C. G., ‘On Mass and Force in Newtonian Mechanics’, ibid. (7), xxix, 477–484 (1940).
Petzoldt, J., ‘Die Gebiete der absoluten und der relativen Bewegung’, Ostwald’s Annalen der Naturphilosophie, vii, 29–62 (1908).
Requard, F., ‘Ein Vorschlag zur Revision des Kraftbegriffes der Makromechanik’, Zeitschrift für Physik, xciv, 544–548 (1935).
Voss, A., ‘Die Prinzipien der rationellen Mechanik’, Encyklopädie der Mathematischen Wissenschaften, iv, Section 1, Part 1: 30–41, 46–55, (Leipzig, 1901–1908). For additional references see Anding, Mach, Pendse (1940), and Voss.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1977 D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, Holland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Simon, H.A. (1977). The Axioms of Newtonian Mechanics. In: Models of Discovery. Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, vol 54. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-9521-1_20
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-9521-1_20
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-277-0970-7
Online ISBN: 978-94-010-9521-1
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive