For nearly 300 years, Isaac Newton’s first law of motion has been a cornerstone in physics. However, a recent study suggests that an error in its original English translation may have led scientists and educators astray.
Newton’s first law states that an object in motion will continue moving unless acted upon by an external force. The widely accepted version, however, was derived from a Latin text translated into English as “unless.” A new interpretation, based on the original Latin word “quatenus,” meaning “insofar as,” challenges this understanding.
The corrected translation implies that all motion in the real world is constantly influenced by forces, rather than moving freely. This reinterpretation strengthens Newton’s ideas, highlighting that even a spinning top, slowed down by air resistance, is subject to external influences.
Historically, this error remained unnoticed for over 40 years after its discovery in 1999 by two scholars. The mistake has sparked debate among physicists and scholars, with some finding it too radical to accept and others viewing it as largely correct.
Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/02/misinterpreting-newton-first-law-300-years