How Galileo dropped the ball and Fermat picked it up (Q542147): Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 22:14, 19 March 2024
scientific article
Language | Label | Description | Also known as |
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English | How Galileo dropped the ball and Fermat picked it up |
scientific article |
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How Galileo dropped the ball and Fermat picked it up (English)
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8 June 2011
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This paper tells an episode from the history of physics. There were two competing schools in the 17th century dealing with the freefall, a Galilean school and a Jesuit one. Fermat agreed that Galileo's conclusion remained undemonstrated but suggested that Galileo might have had a correct proof in mind. Fermat picked up the ball and gave a mathematical proof. Unfortunately, Fermat's proof made a connection that wasn't obvious. The second part of the reviewed paper shows that a simple modification would satisfy any of Fermat's critics.
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history of physics and mathematics
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freefall
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acceleration
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Galileo
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Jesuit school
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Fermat
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Drake
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