Newton's three Laws of Motion are possibly the most elegant and powerful tools in all of physics. The three laws can be written on one side of a 3 x 5 card, yet they can explain almost every observable phenomenon, from the way breadcrumbs scatter on a plate to the irresistible momentum of a tsunami. This unit explores these three laws, examining both their wide-ranging applicability and their role in transforming our understanding of nature.

Newton's Laws represent one of the clearest examples of what the philosopher Thomas Kuhn calls a "paradigm shift." By reducing all of dynamics to three simple laws based around the principle of force, Newton overturned a number of basic assumptions about the workings of the cosmos. Some of these assumptions, most notably Aristotle's law of inertia, linger unconsciously with us still. We can appreciate the significance of Newton's Laws by grasping just how revolutionary and counter-intuitive they are…

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