On the relation of free bodies, inertial sets and arbitrariness

We present a fully relational definition of inertial systems based in the No Arbitrariness Principle, that eliminates the need for absolute inertial frames of reference or distinguished reference systems as the ``fixed stars'' in order to formulate Newtonian mechanics. The historical roots...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inScience & Philosophy Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 7 - 26
Main Authors Solari, Hernán G., Natiello, Mario
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Accademia Piceno Aprutina dei Velati 31.12.2021
Subjects
Annan fysik
constructivism
Filosofi
Filosofi, etik och religion
Fysik
Humaniora och konst
Humanities
inertial frames
Natural Sciences
Naturvetenskap
Newtonian Mechanics
Other Physics Topics
Philosophy
Philosophy, Ethics and Religion
Physical Sciences
relationism
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Summary:We present a fully relational definition of inertial systems based in the No Arbitrariness Principle, that eliminates the need for absolute inertial frames of reference or distinguished reference systems as the ``fixed stars'' in order to formulate Newtonian mechanics. The historical roots of this approach to mechanics are discussed as well. The work is based in part in the constructivist perspective of space advanced by Piaget. We argue that inertial systems admit approximations and that what is of practical use are precisely such approximations. We finally discuss a slightly larger class of systems that we call``relatively inertial'' which are the fundamental systems in a relationalview of mechanics.
ISSN:2282-7757
2282-7765
DOI:10.23756/sp.v9i2.669