Philosopher Daniel Hoek is challenging our understanding of Isaac Newton’s laws of motion, specifically his first law of inertia. For centuries, academics and teachers have interpreted Newton’s first law to mean that an object will continue moving in a straight line or remain at rest unless an external force intervenes. However, Hoek argues that this interpretation is incorrect.
According to Hoek, Newton’s original translation used the word “quatenus,” which means “insofar” rather than “unless.” This change in wording has significant implications for our understanding of inertia. Hoek believes that every change in an object’s momentum – every jolt, dip, swerve, and spurt – is due to external forces.
Hoek’s reinterpretation has sparked debate among experts, with some finding it too unconventional to take seriously. However, carefully examining Newton’s own writings clarifies his original intention. In fact, Newton provided concrete examples of how his first law applies to accelerating bodies subject to forces, such as a spinning top slowing down due to air friction.
Hoek’s revised interpretation also highlights the universality of Newton’s laws, applying them not just to objects on Earth but also to celestial bodies and the cosmos. This perspective reunites us with the vastness of space, reminding us that physics governs all aspects of our reality.
The reinterpretation has been published in a 2022 research paper, which Hoek describes as restoring one of the fundamental principles of physics to its original splendor.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/weve-been-misreading-a-major-law-of-physics-for-nearly-300-years