Magnificent Principia

Nobel laureate Steven Weinberg has written that "all that has happened since 1687 is a gloss on the Principia." Now you too can appreciate the significance of this stellar work, regarded by many as the greatest scientific contribution of all time. Despite its dazzling reputation, Isaac Newton's Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, or simply the Principia, remains a mystery for many people. Few of even the most intellectually curious readers, including professional scientists and mathematicians, have actually looked in the Principia or appreciate its contents. Mathematician Pask seeks to remedy this deficit in this accessible guided tour through Newton's masterpiece. Using the final edition of the Principia, Pask clearly demonstrates how it sets out Newton's (and now our) approach to science; how the framework of classical mechanics is established; how terrestrial phenomena like the tides and projectile motion are explained; and how we can understand the dynamics of the solar system and the paths of comets. He also includes scene-setting chapters about Newton himself and scientific developments in his time, as well as chapters about the reception and influence of the Principia up to the present day.

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 Newton was a man who changed our view of the world and set us on the path to modern science. He was not a boy genius, like Mozart, but rather a man who was taught and encouraged by a talented father. #2 Isaac Newton was born in 1642. He was named after his father, a prosperous yeoman farmer who had died three months earlier. The baby was premature, tiny, and sickly. He did not have a good relationship with his grandmother, and he was left out of his grandfather’s will. #3 Newton was a student at the University of Cambridge from 1661 to 1665. He was made a fellow of Trinity College in 1667, and in 1672 he published Light and Colours, which described his theories on those subjects. In 1675, he published his Hypothesis Explaining the Properties of Light. #4 Newton was a very private person, and he did not participate in university affairs. However, he did write letters to support the Christian religion and defend it against infidels. He had a mental breakdown in 1693, but recovered and continued his various activities.

The Principia Mathematica has long been recognised as one of the intellectual landmarks of the century.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1934.

Exploring Mathematics: Investigations with Functions is intended for a one- or two-term course in mathematics for college students majoring in the social sciences, English, history, music, art, education, or any of the other majors within liberal arts. The mathematics course of this scope, with an algebra prerequsite, is a popular selection for liberal arts students. This 9-chapter textbook offers modern applications of mathematics in the liberal arts as well as aesthetic features of this rich facet of history and ongoing advancement of human society. With a central theme around the use of the concept of functions, and the inclusion of unique topics and chapters, Exploring Mathematics enables students to explore the next level of mathematics. It attempts to answer the questions, "How does mathematics help us to better our society and understand the world around us?" and "What are some of the unifying ideas of mathematics?" The central theme helps to impress upon the student the feeling that mathematics is more than a disconnected potpourri of rules and tricks. Although it would be inappropriate to force a functional connection in every single section, the theme is used whenever possible to provide conceptual bridges between chapters. Developing the concept of a function augments the presentation of many topics in every chapter. The Text's Objectives: The author chose the topics based on meeting the specific NCTM curriculum standards to: 1. Strengthen estimation and computational skills. 2. Utilize algebraic concepts. 3. Emphasize problem-solving and reasoning. 4. Emphasize pattern and relationship recognition. 5. Highlight importance of units in measurement. 6. Highlight importance of the notion of a mathematical function. 7. Display mathematical connections to other disciplines.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Mathematics is, in many ways, the most generic and abstract of all systems of human thought. Once Newton found he could describe dynamics and planetary motions using purely mathematical laws and deductive processes, he understood that there was no limit to what else could be explained — given time and ingenuity every aspect of Nature would find its mathematical roots. Newton himself repeatedly stated how aspects of chemistry, biology and even human thought could be accessed by his method. He also acknowledged how immense the task would be, involving many contributors over many centuries, however once the system was in place, it could be extended indefinitely. Although not fully understood during his lifetime, the Newtonian method has since been applied to many subjects outside of physics, including chemistry, physiology and philosophy. This book analyses the Newtonian method and demonstrates how it represents the very roots of our understanding of the great world system we live in today. This unique book is published as the second of a three-part set for Newtonian scholars, historians of science, philosophers of science and others interested in Newtonian physics. All Titles: 1.Newton and Modern Physics 2.Newton and the Great World System 3.Newton — Innovation and Controversy Contents: PrefaceAbout the AuthorMetaphysics and MethodologyMathematicsSpace, Time and MotionMass, Momentum and EnergyGravityThe System of the WorldAstrophysics and CosmologyGravity and InertiaBibliographyIndex Readership: Newtonian scholars, historians of science, philosophers of science and others interested in Newtonian physics. Keywords: Newton;Newtonian Physics;Newtonian Method;Cosmology;MathematicsReview:0

Facts and figures have been thoroughly updated and the work includes a comprehensive Guide to Resources, incorporating the major published literature along with a vetted list of websites and Internet resources for students and lay readers.