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[-] TheTechnician27@lemmy.world 168 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

This wasn't the revolutionary part about Newton's conception of inertia. It was the counterpart: that an object in motion will tend to keep going forever unless acted upon by a force. This was pretty staggering in a world where an arrow fired from a bow (below escape velocity, you snitty little pedants) will slow down and fall to the ground as though getting tired on its own.

[-] ViatorOmnium@piefed.social 60 points 3 days ago

The prevailing theory in Europe at time was still Aristotle’s idea that a force was necessary for objects to remain in motion. The theories on how an arrow or any other thrown object remained in motion involved an impromptu Rube Goldberg contraption involving the object and the atmosphere.

[-] deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz 16 points 2 days ago

a force was necessary for objects to remain in motion.

Pretty much every science fiction film too. With very few notable exceptions.

[-] psud@aussie.zone 45 points 3 days ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

You picked the wrong pedants. Bows are shot, not fired

[-] echodot@feddit.uk 66 points 3 days ago

Bows aren't shot, not unless you're doing it wrong. You shoot the arrow, the boat should stay in your hand.

[-] notabot@piefed.social 47 points 3 days ago

You loose an arrow, not shoot it. Pedantry ahoy!

[-] Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works 40 points 2 days ago

Actually... pushes up glasses... the word shot is Middle English and describes the flinging of a projectile, including from a bow. It predates the use of gunpowder weaponry and derives from the Old English gesceot.

[-] skeptomatic@lemmy.ca 10 points 2 days ago

Akchooally, "ahoy" is derived from, "chips ahoy", where chips are not thin potato slices nor potato sticks, but pieces of chocolate.

[-] ieGod@lemmy.zip 5 points 2 days ago

Ackshulie they're called chips not because they're chunks of chocolate but rather because they resemble Chip Gaines' finished products.

[-] Rug_Pisser@piefed.zip 1 points 2 days ago

Hmm, I'd like to invest in pedantic internet comment chains please.

[-] T156@lemmy.world 23 points 3 days ago

Oh, I've been doing it wrong all this time. No wonder my bows are cross.

[-] notabot@piefed.social 3 points 2 days ago

Oh dear, I have heard they like to quarrel.

[-] rambling_lunatic@sh.itjust.works 10 points 2 days ago
[-] psud@aussie.zone 2 points 1 day ago

Indeed. I blame swipe typing and too little review

[-] lengau@midwest.social 2 points 2 days ago

You're a pendant!

[-] foofiepie@lemmy.world 10 points 3 days ago

They didn’t pick jewellery.

[-] Saapas@piefed.zip 1 points 2 days ago

Cannon or musket ball would be more fitting for the time imo

[-] TheTechnician27@lemmy.world 6 points 2 days ago

I was trying to call back to Aristotle's discussion of how this system supposedly worked.

[-] Saapas@piefed.zip 1 points 2 days ago
this post was submitted on 30 Jul 2026
643 points (100.0% liked)

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