Inverse-square orbits in Newton's \(Principia\) and twentieth-century commentary thereon
type: Item
instance of: scholarly article
title: Inverse-square orbits in Newton's \(Principia\) and twentieth-century commentary thereon
zbMATH Open document ID: 0968.01010
author: Robert Weinstock
published in: Archive for History of Exact Sciences
publication date: 2001-09-12T00:00:00Z
review text: There has been much debate about whether or not Isaac Newton rigorously proved the theorem in the \textit{Principia} that if a body moves around a force centre under an inverse square law of attraction, then it describes a conic section in its orbit. The author restates his case that Newton only establishes which section is described, the type of curve being assumed. He also reviews recent historical writings in which Newton's proof is claimed to be adequate.
reviewed by: Ivor Grattan-Guinness
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 01A45
zbMATH DE Number: 1556785
zbMATH Keywords: inverse square law of attraction
MaRDI profile type: Publication
full work available at URL: s004070000022
OpenAlex ID: W2047507775
DOI: 10.1007/S004070000022
description: scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1556785