this post was submitted on 30 Jul 2026
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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.
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.
Pretty much every science fiction film too. With very few notable exceptions.
You picked the wrong pendants. Bows are shot, not fired
Bows aren't shot, not unless you're doing it wrong. You shoot the arrow, the bow should stay in your hand.
You loose an arrow, not shoot it. Pedantry ahoy!
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.
Akchooally, "ahoy" is derived from, "chips ahoy", where chips are not thin potato slices nor potato sticks, but pieces of chocolate.
Ackshulie they're called chips not because they're chunks of chocolate but rather because they resemble Chip Gaines' finished products.
Hmm, I'd like to invest in pedantic internet comment chains please.
Oh, I've been doing it wrong all this time. No wonder my bows are cross.
Oh dear, I have heard they like to quarrel.
*pedant, not pendant
You're a pendant!
They didn’t pick jewellery.
Cannon or musket ball would be more fitting for the time imo
I was trying to call back to Aristotle's discussion of how this system supposedly worked.
Oh alright