Content: The beginning and the first article introduce the three basic laws of motion and basic mechanical quantities of mechanics; The concept of mass was first put forward and defined by Newton, but Newton called it "the quantity of matter" at that time, and this name was later used by another physical quantity. In the second chapter, the motion of an object in a damping medium is discussed, and the formula that the resistance is proportional to the first and second squares of the velocity of the object is put forward. He also studied the elasticity and compressibility of gas and the speed of sound in air. This Newton provided a stage to show his mathematical talents. The third topic is the cosmic system, which discusses the operation of planets, satellites and comets in the solar system and the generation of ocean tides, involving perturbation in many-body problems.
Structure: The mathematical principle of natural philosophy is a standard axiomatic system. Starting from the most basic definitions and axioms, it "deduces some general propositions in the first part and the second part". The first part is entitled "Motion of Objects", which prepares for the discussion of mathematical tools in the whole book, classifies various forms of motion, and examines the relationship between each form of motion and force in detail. The second part discusses "the motion of an object (in a blocked medium)", and further investigates the influence of various forms of resistance on the motion, and discusses various actual forces and motions on the ground. The third part "demonstrates their application to the cosmic system, deduces the gravitational force that makes objects tend to the sun and planets from astronomical phenomena with the propositions proved by the first two parts, and then calculates the movements of planets, comets, moons and oceans from these forces with other mathematical propositions". At the end of the book, Newton wrote a famous General Explanation, which focused on Newton's views on the fundamental reason of everything in the universe-gravity and the general reason why our universe is such a beautiful system, and his views on the existence and essence of God.
Status: In the history of science, Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy is the first classic work of classical mechanics, an epoch-making masterpiece, and the first complete scientific cosmology and scientific theoretical system mastered by human beings. Its influence covers all fields of classical natural science, and it has repeatedly achieved fruitful results in the following 300 years. As far as the history of human civilization is concerned, it has achieved the industrial revolution in Britain, induced the Enlightenment and the Great Revolution in France, and made direct and rich achievements in both social productive forces and social basic systems. So far, there is no second important scientific and academic theory that has made such great achievements.