newtonian
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Relating to Sir Isaac Newton, his scientific theories, or his laws of motion: Describing concepts, principles, or physics based on the work of the scientist Isaac Newton.
- Conforming to classical physics: Pertaining to the system of mechanics that describes the motion of macroscopic objects at speeds much slower than the speed of light.
Noun:
- A follower or adherent of Isaac Newton's theories: A person who supports or studies the scientific ideas and principles established by Isaac Newton.
Usage Examples
Adjective:
- Newtonian mechanics provides an accurate description of everyday phenomena like falling apples and orbiting planets.
- The engineer applied Newtonian principles to calculate the forces on the bridge.
Noun:
- As a dedicated Newtonian, she found the shift to quantum theory challenging.
- Early Newtonians helped spread his revolutionary ideas about gravity and motion.
Advanced Usage
"Newtonian fluid": A fluid whose viscosity remains constant, regardless of the applied stress. Water and air are common examples.
- In this model, we assume the liquid behaves as a Newtonian fluid.
"Non-Newtonian": A term used to describe fluids that do not follow Newton's law of viscosity (e.g., ketchup, custard).
- Oobleck is a classic example of a non-Newtonian substance.
Variants and Related Words
Newtonianism (n): The body of scientific doctrine based on Newton's work.
- The triumph of Newtonianism shaped science for centuries.
Newton (n, prop): The unit of force in physics, named after Sir Isaac Newton.
- It required a force of several newtons to move the object.
Synonyms
- Classical (adj): Referring to physics before the theories of relativity and quantum mechanics.
- Adherent (n): A supporter of a particular theory or leader.
Related Phrases
Newtonian telescope: A type of reflecting telescope designed by Isaac Newton.
- The amateur astronomer built her own Newtonian telescope.
Newtonian worldview: The understanding of the universe as a deterministic machine operating under fixed laws, inspired by Newton's work.
- The Newtonian worldview dominated scientific thought for over two hundred years.
Adjective
- of or relating to or inspired by Sir Isaac Newton or his science
- Newtonian physics
Noun
- a follower of Isaac Newton