Newton's Laws of Motion
Josiah Willard Gibbs Professor of Physics
This lecture systematically introduces Newton's three laws of motion, defining inertial frames, detailing the relationship between force and acceleration (F=ma), and explaining action-reaction pairs. Concepts of various forces and weightlessness are also examined.
This lecture introduces Newton's Laws of Motion. The First Law on inertia states that every object will remain in a state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line unless acted upon by an external force. The Second Law (F = ma) relates the cause (the force F) to the acceleration. Several different forces are discussed in the context of this law. The lecture ends with the Third Law which states that action and reaction are equal and opposite.
Vectors in Multiple Dimensions
Next · Lecture 4Newton's Laws (cont.) and Inclined Planes