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Re: CAUSATION IN PHYSICS



John Denker wrote:

The non-subtle non-optional point is to recognize that F=ma is an
expression of equivalence (which is symmetric) -- the "=" operator does not
express any asymmetry between the role of F and the role of ma. None of
Newton's laws express any such asymmetry.

The roles of F and of ma are not asymmetrical, but F is the net force
"acting *on* the body" ("exerted *on* the body by the surroundings"), on one
hand, and m is the mass *of* the body and a is the acceleration *of* the
body, on the other hand.

Fabian Barba