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Newton—A Man of His Times

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2009

G. C. Dyer
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Extract

As one of many disciplines which involve the study of bodies and their motion, the science of navigation is heavily indebted to Sir Isaac Newton (1642–1727). Newton's outstanding contribution to science was his conception of the abstract idea of force and its mathematical formulation. This enabled the development of quantitative mechanics through the application of, for example, his Law of Inertia and his Law of Universal Gravitation. Whilst limitations in Newtonian physics have now been exposed at the level of sub-atomic particles moving close to the speed of light (Einsteinian physics), Newton's Laws remain the foundation stone to the solution of most everyday dynamical problems.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Navigation , Volume 28 , Issue 2 , April 1975 , pp. 209 - 217
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Navigation 1975

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References

REFERENCES AND NOTES

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