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
Supposing what is above demonstrated, I say, that if the tangents
of the angles of the sector of a circle, and of an hyperbola, be taken
proportional to the velocities, the radius being of a fit magnitude,
all the time of the ascent to the highest place will be as the sector
of the circle, and all the time of descending from the highest place as
the sector of the hyperbola.
To the right line AC, which expresses the force of gravity, let
AD be drawn perpendicular and equal. From the centre D with the
semi-diameter AD describe as well the quadrant AtE of a circle,
as the rectangular hyperbola AVZ, whose axis is AK, principal vertex
A, and asymptote DC. Let Dp, DP be drawn; and the circular
sector AtD will be as all the time of the ascent to the highest
place; and the hyperbolic sector ATD as all the time of descent from
the highest place; if so be that the tangents Ap, AP of those
sectors be as the velocities.
CASE 1. Draw Dvq cutting off the moments or least
particles tDv and qDp, described
in the same time, of the sector ADt and of the triangle
ADp. Since those particles (because of the common
angle D) are in a duplicate ratio of the sides, the particle
tDv will be as ,
that is[Pg 266] (because tD is given),
as . But
is , that is,
,
or ; and qDp is
. Therefore tDv,
the particle of the sector, is as ; that
is, as the least decrement pq of the velocity directly, and the
force Ck which diminishes the velocity, inversely; and therefore
as the particle of time answering to the decrement of the velocity.
And, by composition, the sum of all the particles tDv
in the sector ADt will be as the sum of the particles of time
answering to each of the lost particles pq of the decreasing
velocity Ap, till that velocity, being diminished into nothing,
vanishes; that is, the whole sector ADt is as the whole time of
ascent to the highest place. Q.E.D.
CASE 2. Draw DQV cutting off the least particles TDV and PDQ of the
sector DAV, and of the triangle DAQ; and these particles will be to
each other as DT2 to DP2, that is (if TX and AP are parallel),
as DX2 to DA2 or TX2 to AP2; and, by division, as DX2 - TX2
to DA2 - AP2. But, from the nature of the hyperbola, DX2 - TX2
is AD2; and, by the supposition, AP2 is AD × AK. Therefore the
particles are to each other as AD2 to AD2 - AD × AK; that is,
as AD to AD - AK or AC to CK: and therefore the particle TDV of
the sector is ; and therefore
(because AC and AD are given) as ;
that is, as the increment of the velocity directly, and as the force
generating the increment inversely; and therefore as the particle of
the time answering to the increment. And, by composition, the sum of
the particles of time, in which all the particles PQ of the velocity AP
are generated, will be as the sum of the particles of the sector ATD;
that is, the whole time will be as the whole sector. Q.E.D.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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