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Re: Why work before energy in texts

F=ma is
_not_ an axiom nor
a tautology.

Agreed.

To say it in more positive terms: We have an
operational
definition of force.

Agreed.

And here is the operation. Measure a, something we can do without reference
to F=ma (see kinematics chapters of most introductory texts); measure m,
something we can do without reference to F=ma (see Eisenbud, Am. J. Phys.,
26,144,(1958); or Mach, "Science of Mechanics", Open Court, NY,1942).

then use F=ma to calculate F.


We have an operational definition of
mass.

We do?

We have
an operational definition of acceleration.


We do?