In his monumental 1687 work, Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, known familiarly as the Principia, Isaac Newton laid out in mathematical terms the principles of time, force, and motion that have guided the development of modern physical science. Even after more than three centuries and the revolutions of Einsteinian relativity and quantum mechanics, Newtonian physics continues to account for many of the phenomena of the observed world, and Newtonian celestial dynamics is used to determine the orbits of our space vehicles.
This authoritative, modern translation by I. Bernard Cohen and Anne Whitman, the first in more than 285 years, is based on the 1726 edition, the final revised version approved by Newton; it includes extracts from the earlier editions, corrects errors found in earlier versions, and replaces archaic English with contemporary prose and up-to-date mathematical forms.
Newton’s principles describe acceleration, deceleration, and inertial movement; fluid dynamics; and the motions of the earth, moon, planets, and comets. A great work in itself, the Principia also revolutionized the methods of scientific investigation. It set forth the fundamental three laws of motion and the law of universal gravity, the physical principles that account for the Copernican system of the world as emended by Kepler, thus effectively ending controversy concerning the Copernican planetary system.
The illuminating Guide to Newton’s Principia by I. Bernard Cohen makes this preeminent work truly accessible for today’s scientists, scholars, and students.
Designed with collectors in mind, this deluxe edition has faux leather binding covered with a beautiful dustjacket.
Reviews (5)
5 reviews for The Principia: The Authoritative Translation and Guide: Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy
BHarvey
Rated 5 out of 5
August 23, 2023
1. Laws of Motion: Newton's three laws of motion are fundamental principles that describe the relationship between the motion of an object and the for...More
1. Laws of Motion: Newton's three laws of motion are fundamental principles that describe the relationship between the motion of an object and the forces acting upon it. They provide the basis for understanding the dynamics of objects and the behavior of forces in the physical world.
2. Law of Universal Gravitation: Newton's law of universal gravitation states that every particle in the universe attracts every other particle with a force directly proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This law explains the force responsible for the motion of celestial bodies and forms the basis of classical mechanics.
3. Mathematical Formulation: Newton introduced a mathematical formulation for expressing his laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation. He employed calculus, which he developed simultaneously with Gottfried Leibniz, to describe and quantify the relationship between physical quantities and their rates of change.
4. Celestial Mechanics: Newton applied his laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation to the study of celestial bodies. He demonstrated that the same principles govern the motion of both terrestrial and celestial objects, providing a unified understanding of the physical world.
5. Three-Body Problem: Newton's work on celestial mechanics addressed the challenging problem of understanding the motion of three celestial bodies under their mutual gravitational influence. While he was unable to find a general analytical solution, his insights laid the groundwork for future developments in the field.
6. Conservation Laws: Newton's laws of motion include the concepts of conservation of momentum and conservation of angular momentum. These principles state that the total momentum and total angular momentum of an isolated system remain constant, providing important insights into the behavior of objects and systems.
7. Pendulum Motion: Newton's Principia contains an analysis of the motion of pendulums, which are oscillating systems commonly found in clocks. He provided mathematical equations that describe the motion of a pendulum under different conditions, contributing to the understanding of periodic phenomena.
8. Optics: Newton's Principia includes a section on optics, where he explored the behavior of light and developed his theory of colors. He conducted experiments with prisms, demonstrating that white light is composed of a spectrum of colors and introducing the concept of the refractive index.
9. Inertia: Newton's first law of motion, also known as the law of inertia, states that an object at rest tends to stay at rest, and an object in motion tends to stay in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an external force. This concept established the idea of inertia and is a fundamental principle in classical mechanics.
10. Mathematical Rigor: Newton's Principia is known for its rigorous mathematical approach to physics. By grounding his laws in precise mathematical formulations and equations, Newton elevated the study of mechanics to a new level of precision and laid the groundwork for future scientific inquiry.
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Ragamuffin.
Rated 5 out of 5
February 13, 2023
The most influential book on the whole of the Western Civilization. This edition shows all the signs of a great way to get into the studying, at last,...More
The most influential book on the whole of the Western Civilization. This edition shows all the signs of a great way to get into the studying, at last, of this unparalleled work.
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ES.
Rated 5 out of 5
July 20, 2022
This book came super quickly, and incredible condition. My man loves learning and such a great book for people who love to learn. I was incredibly hap...More
This book came super quickly, and incredible condition. My man loves learning and such a great book for people who love to learn. I was incredibly happy with how sturdy the composition of the book was! Definitely a must have book! 😊
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JRicher
Rated 5 out of 5
July 9, 2021
A very high quality work. Very readable even for a non-anglophone.The French translation by La Marquise du Chastellet (1756) is also excellent,but the...More
A very high quality work. Very readable even for a non-anglophone. The French translation by La Marquise du Chastellet (1756) is also excellent, but the old typography (and slightly old French) makes it harder reading. Both translations nicely plunge the reader in a long voyage into a remote and fascinating past.
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Johnnie
Rated 5 out of 5
March 7, 2021
Super good deal on a hard cover copy of a classic. This is also a good edition. The commentary is helpful, but is also very thick. Still a good deal, ...More
Super good deal on a hard cover copy of a classic. This is also a good edition. The commentary is helpful, but is also very thick. Still a good deal, would recommend.
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2. Law of Universal Gravitation: Newton's law of universal gravitation states that every particle in the universe attracts every other particle with a force directly proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This law explains the force responsible for the motion of celestial bodies and forms the basis of classical mechanics.
3. Mathematical Formulation: Newton introduced a mathematical formulation for expressing his laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation. He employed calculus, which he developed simultaneously with Gottfried Leibniz, to describe and quantify the relationship between physical quantities and their rates of change.
4. Celestial Mechanics: Newton applied his laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation to the study of celestial bodies. He demonstrated that the same principles govern the motion of both terrestrial and celestial objects, providing a unified understanding of the physical world.
5. Three-Body Problem: Newton's work on celestial mechanics addressed the challenging problem of understanding the motion of three celestial bodies under their mutual gravitational influence. While he was unable to find a general analytical solution, his insights laid the groundwork for future developments in the field.
6. Conservation Laws: Newton's laws of motion include the concepts of conservation of momentum and conservation of angular momentum. These principles state that the total momentum and total angular momentum of an isolated system remain constant, providing important insights into the behavior of objects and systems.
7. Pendulum Motion: Newton's Principia contains an analysis of the motion of pendulums, which are oscillating systems commonly found in clocks. He provided mathematical equations that describe the motion of a pendulum under different conditions, contributing to the understanding of periodic phenomena.
8. Optics: Newton's Principia includes a section on optics, where he explored the behavior of light and developed his theory of colors. He conducted experiments with prisms, demonstrating that white light is composed of a spectrum of colors and introducing the concept of the refractive index.
9. Inertia: Newton's first law of motion, also known as the law of inertia, states that an object at rest tends to stay at rest, and an object in motion tends to stay in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an external force. This concept established the idea of inertia and is a fundamental principle in classical mechanics.
10. Mathematical Rigor: Newton's Principia is known for its rigorous mathematical approach to physics. By grounding his laws in precise mathematical formulations and equations, Newton elevated the study of mechanics to a new level of precision and laid the groundwork for future scientific inquiry.
The French translation by La Marquise du Chastellet (1756) is also excellent,
but the old typography (and slightly old French) makes it harder reading.
Both translations nicely plunge the reader in a long voyage into a remote and fascinating past.