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
For since the motion lost in each equal particle of time is as the
velocity, that is, as the particle of space gone over, then, by
composition, the motion lost in the whole time will be as the whole
space gone over. Q.E.D.
COR. Therefore if the body, destitute of all gravity, move by its
innate force only in free spaces, and there be given both its whole
motion at the beginning, and also the motion remaining after some part
of the way is gone over, there will be given also the whole space which
the body can describe in an infinite time. For that space will be to
the space now described as the whole motion at the beginning is to the
part lost of that motion.
LEMMA I.
Quantities proportional to their differences are continually
proportional.
Let A be to A - B as B to B - C and C to C - D, &c., and, by
conversion, A will be to B as B to C and C to D, &c. Q.E.D.
PROPOSITION II. THEOREM II.
If a body is resisted in the ratio of its velocity, and moves, by
its vis insita only, through a similar medium, and the times be
taken equal, the velocities in the beginning of each of the times are
in a geometrical progression, and the spaces described in each of the
times are as the velocities.
CASE 1. Let the time be divided into equal particles; and if at the
very beginning of each particle we suppose the resistance to act
with one single impulse which is as the velocity, the decrement
of the velocity in each of[Pg 252] the particles of time will be as
the same velocity. Therefore the velocities are proportional to
their differences, and therefore (by Lem. 1, Book II) continually
proportional. Therefore if out of an equal number of particles there
be compounded any equal portions of time, the velocities at the
beginning of those times will be as terms in a continued progression,
which are taken by intervals, omitting every where an equal number of
intermediate terms. But the ratios of these terms are compounded of the
equal ratios of the intermediate terms equally repeated, and therefore
are equal. Therefore the velocities, being proportional to those terms,
are in geometrical progression. Let those equal particles of time be
diminished, and their number increased in infinitum, so that the
impulse of resistance may become continual; and the velocities at the
beginnings of equal times, always continually proportional, will be
also in this case continually proportional. Q.E.D.
CASE 2. And, by division, the differences of the velocities, that is,
the parts of the velocities lost in each of the times, are as the
wholes; but the spaces described in each of the times are as the lost
parts of the velocities (by Prop. 1, Book I), and therefore are also as
the wholes. Q.E.D.
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