FORCE IN NEWTON'S PHYSICS: THE SCIENCE OF DYNAMICS IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY

Richard S. Westfall [Professor Of the History of Science, Indiana University]

Published by Macdonald, London, 1971

About this Item

First impression of the first UK edition. ***Illustrated throughout with fifty-two black and white text-figures. The illustration on the front and rear panels of the dustwrapper is taken from a draft of Newton's De Motu Corporum, Autumn, 1684 (Cambridge University Library add MSS 3965 f57a) and is part of his proof that elliptical orbits may be traversed under an inverse-square 'gravity' to a focus. ***Near fine in pale sea-green cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to spine. Top edge of text-block slightly discoloured and lightly foxed. A hint of foxing to fore-edge of text-block. No inscriptions. Pages clean. Spine tight. ***In a very good colour printed price-clipped dustwrapper. Edge of dustwrapper slightly rubbed and discoloured and slightly foxed. Tiny closed nick to top edge of rear panel near spine. Spine of dustwrapper slightly browned. Front and rear panels of dustwrapper bright. ***242 mm x 164 mm. ***xii-prelim pages, 579 text-pages including appendixes, extensive bibliography and index to rear. ***'Force in Newton's Physics examines the basic problems of Newtonian dynamics in their relation to the development of rational mechanics during the seventeenth century. It undertakes to explain why a half century of work by men of the highest talent was required to draw from the principle of inertia conclusions that appear to us obviously implicit in it. ***Professor Westfall argues that there were on the one hand, a number of conceptual difficulties internal to the science of dynamics that had to be resolved. The enduring legacy of medieval impetus theory emphasized impact as a more likely model of dynamic action than the uniform acceleration of free fall. The law of the lever and the legacy of statics continually confused dynamic analyses and proposed inherently incompatible definitions of force. The elements of circular motion and the role of mass in dynamic action offered complex riddles to mechanical analyses. ***In addition to the problems internal to dynamics, the prevailing mechanical philosophy of nature obstructed the emergence of quantitative dynamics devoted, not to causal explanations, but to precise mathematical description. The central theme of the book is the successful resolution of these issues by Newton's concept of force.' (Quote from inside front of dustwrapper blurb). ***Hard to find first impression of the true first edition of "Force in Newton's Physics" complete in its original dustwrapper in nice collectable condition. ***A highly scholarly work of interest to collectors and academics researching the history of science and force in Newton's physics. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.***.

Seller Inventory # 2969

Bibliographic Details

• Title: FORCE IN NEWTON'S PHYSICS: THE SCIENCE OF DYNAMICS IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY
• Publisher: Macdonald, London
• Publication Date: 1971
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: First UK Edition
• Condition: Near Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • Science
  • History & Military