Excerpt from Theoretical Mechanics: An Introductory Treatise on the Principles of Dynamics, With Applications and Numerous ExamplesThe foundations of Mechanical Science were laid by' Newton, and his achievements in this department constitute perhaps his most enduring title to fame. Later writers have developed his principles analytically, and have extended the region of their application, but, in regard to the principles themselves, they have acted the part of commentators. Nevertheless we may trace a tendency in modern investigations, which is of the nature of a gradual change in the point of view: there is less search for causes, more inclination to regard the object to be attained as a precise formulation of observed facts. On another side there is an important respect in which modern writers have departed from the form of the Newtonian theory. The philosophical dictum that all motion is relative stands in pronounced contra diction with Newton's dynamical apparatus of absolute time, absolute space, and absolute motion. It has been necessary to reconsider in detail the principles, and the results deduced from them, in order to ascertain what modification would be needed to bring the theory of Rational Mechanics founded by Newton into harmony with the doctrine of the relativity of motion.The purpose of this book is didactic, it is meant to set before students an account of the principles of Mechanics, which shall be as precise as possible, and which shall be in accordance with modern ideas.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully, any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.