Re: [Phys-l] Centrifugal redux

["Anthony Lapinski" <Anthony_Lapinski@pds.org>]

I always thought (and textbooks say) that Aristotle believed that a force
was needed to keep an object moving. At that time, the natural state of
motion was one of rest. They thought that heavier object fell faster (they
actually do with air), etc...

Forum for Physics Educators <phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu> writes:
> And medieval scholars did not pay attention to or did not understand
> Aristotle.  As I understand he did write a statement of Newton's first
> law.
> He apparently recognized that things keep on going unless acted upon by a
> force.  So even if he had written more that was Newtonian, later scholars
> might have rejected it because of their persistent preconceptions.
>
> Modern students actually have conceptions which are in some ways closer to
> medieval science than to Aristotle.  Impetus has been attributed to
> medieval
> scholars.
>
> John M. Clement
> Houston, TX
>
> > > If only Aristotle had one of these, science would probably be more
> > > advanced than what it is today!
> >
> > 	I doubt it.
> >
> > 	Aristotle already KNEW the answers and didn't let observations
> > interfere with his 'knowledge'.
> >
> > 	His attitude is shared by a number of modern students.
>
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