Newton's Principia : $b The mathematical principles of natural philosophyNewton, Isaac
General
Newton's Principia : $b The mathematical principles of natural philosophy
Newton, Isaac
Celestial mechanics -- Early works to 1800; Mechanics -- Early works to 1800
COR. 18. By the same laws by which the body P revolves about the body
T, let us suppose many fluid bodies to move round T at equal distances
from it; and to be so numerous, that they may all become contiguous
to each other, so as to form a fluid annulus, or ring, of a round
figure, and concentrical to the body T; and the several parts of this
annulus, performing their motions by the same law as the body P, will
draw nearer to the body T, and move swifter in the conjunction and
opposition of themselves and the body S, than in the quadratures. And
the nodes of this annulus, or its intersections with the plane of the
orbit of the body S or T, will rest at the syzygies; but out of the
syzygies they will be carried backward, or in antecedentia; with
the greatest swiftness in the quadratures, and more slowly in other
places. The inclination of this annulus also will vary, and its axis
will oscillate each revolution, and when the revolution is completed
will return to its former situation, except only that it will be
carried round a little by the præcession of the nodes.
COR. 19. Suppose now the sphærical body T, consisting of some matter
not fluid, to be enlarged, and to extend itself on every side as far as
that annulus, and that a channel were cut all round its circumference
containing water; and that this sphere revolves uniformly about its
own axis in the same periodical time. This water being accelerated and
retarded by turns (as in the last Corollary), will be swifter at the
syzygies, and slower at the quadratures, than the surface of the globe,
and so will ebb and flow in its channel after the manner of the sea. If
the attraction of the body S were taken away, the water would acquire
no motion of flux and reflux by revolving round the quiescent centre of
the globe. The case is the same of a globe moving uniformly forwards
in a right line, and in the mean time revolving about its centre (by
Cor. 5 of the Laws of Motion), and of a globe uniformly attracted from
its rectilinear course (by Cor. 6, of the same Laws). But let the body
S come to act upon it, and by its unequable attraction the water will
receive this new motion; for there will be a stronger attraction upon
that part of the water that is nearest to the body, and a weaker upon
that part which is more remote. And the force LM will attract the water
downwards at the quadratures, and depress it as far as the syzygies;
and the force KL will attract it upwards in the syzygies, and withhold
its descent, and make it rise as far as the quadratures; except only in
so far as the motion of flux and reflux may be directed by the channel
of the water, and be a little retarded by friction.
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