Re: Causation in Physics: F=ma

[Bob Sciamanda <trebor@VELOCITY.NET>]

If one fills in the left hand side of F=ma for a specific case, the word or
concept "force" need never be invoked.  In the Newtonian gravitational case
it could be expressed simply as a statement that the acceleration (times the
mass) of a particle is a calculable function of the positions (relative to
it) of all the other particles of concern.  We then (unnecessarily, but very
conveniently) introduce the go-between concept of an interaction or "force"
as a generalization of the environmental properties which numerically
determine a particle's acceleration.  We then, almost automatically, think
in terms of "cause and effect", if not physically, then at least
conceptually, in accordance with our human models' way of describing things
in terms familiar to our everyday life and thought.
.
Bob Sciamanda
Physics, Edinboro Univ of PA (Em)
http://www.velocity.net/~trebor/
trebor@velocity.net
----- Original Message -----
From: "Justin Parke" <FIZIX29@AOL.COM>
To: <PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu>
Sent: Friday, November 14, 2003 10:20 AM
Subject: Re: Causation in Physics: F=ma


> Why do I so strongly want to believe that forces cause accelerations?
>
> Justin Parke
> Oakland Mills High School
> Columbia, MD