Cartesian Laws of Motion
The motion of these particles and all other objects in nature are subject to the laws of motion Descartes had observed:
- “…each particular part of matter always continues in the same state unless collision with others forces it to change its state.”
- “…when one of these bodies pushes another, it cannot give the 2nd any motion, except by losing as much of its own motion at the same time…”
- “…when a body is moving…each of its parts individually tends always to continue moving along a straight line” (Gaukroger)
Descartes in Principles of Philosophy added to these his laws on elastic collision.
Read more about this topic: The World (Descartes)
Famous quotes containing the words laws and/or motion:
“Surely it is one of the simplest laws of taste in dress, that it shall not attract undue attention from the wearer to the worn.”
—Elizabeth Stuart Phelps (1844–1911)
“There’s not the smallest orb which thou behold’st
But in his motion like an angel sings,
Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubins;
Such harmony is in immortal souls,
But whilst this muddy vesture of decay
Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)