Chapter 0. History of Mechanics

Recommended Post : 【Physics】 Physics Contents

1. Ancient Mechanics : Aristotelian Propositions

⑴ Paradox of the Bow and Arrow : Nature dislikes a vacuum

⑵ Objects need continuous force to be in motion due to their tendency to rest

⑶ Heavier objects fall faster

⑷ Natural motion

① Motion on Earth : Straight motion

② Motion in the heavens : Circular motion

③ Introduced for religious significance

⑴ John Philoponus (490-570)

① Object’s speed is proportional to its weight

② Speed of an object decreases due to the resistance of the medium

⑵ Buridan

① An object, once force is applied, will continue to move

② With resistance, the force diminishes and the object stops eventually

③ Introduced the concept of modern momentum

⑴ Galileo

① Explained inertia, the tendency of objects to maintain their state of motion

② Through thought experiments, refuted Aristotle’s argument by connecting light and heavy objects

③ Conducted experiments on free fall

⑵ Huygens

① Explained the motion of objects that describe inertia in a straight direction

⑶ Newton

① Without external forces, an object’s acceleration is 0

② Defined force as the cause of changes in momentum

⑷ Descartes

① Proposed the conservation of momentum

⑸ Mayer

① Proposed the conservation of energy

⑹ Joule

① Explored heat-work conversion

⑺ Thomson

① Completed the law of conservation of energy

Input: 2019.07.07 17:37