Newton’s bucket argument
E415500
Newton’s bucket argument is a thought experiment by Isaac Newton that uses the behavior of water in a rotating bucket to argue for the existence of absolute space.
All labels observed (1)
| Label | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| Newton’s bucket argument canonical | 1 |
Statements (46)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
argument for absolute space
ⓘ
argument in physics ⓘ philosophical thought experiment ⓘ |
| addressesConcept |
absolute space
ⓘ
inertial effects ⓘ relative motion ⓘ rotation ⓘ |
| coreClaim |
effects of rotation indicate motion relative to absolute space
ⓘ
shape of water surface depends on absolute rotation, not merely relative motion to the bucket ⓘ |
| critiquedBy |
Ernst Mach
ⓘ
relationalists about space ⓘ |
| describedInBook | Principia ⓘ |
| describedInWork | Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica ⓘ |
| field |
classical mechanics
ⓘ
philosophy of physics ⓘ |
| hasAlternativeName |
bucket experiment
ⓘ
rotating bucket argument ⓘ |
| hasAuthor | Isaac Newton ⓘ |
| hasExampleSetup |
bucket initially at rest with water surface flat
ⓘ
bucket spun so that water surface becomes concave ⓘ bucket suspended by a rope ⓘ |
| hasKeyFeature |
comparison of water shape when bucket is at rest and when rotating
ⓘ
distinction between relative motion and true motion ⓘ use of centrifugal effects as evidence ⓘ |
| hasPhilosophicalIssue |
metaphysics of motion
ⓘ
nature of space ⓘ status of inertial structure ⓘ |
| historicalPeriod | 17th century ⓘ |
| influenced |
Ernst Mach’s critique of Newtonian mechanics
ⓘ
debates on substantivalism vs relationalism ⓘ discussions of general relativity and rotation ⓘ |
| involvesObject |
bucket
ⓘ
water ⓘ |
| involvesObservation |
concave water surface
ⓘ
eventual co-rotation of water and bucket ⓘ lag of water relative to bucket ⓘ |
| involvesProcess | rotation of the bucket ⓘ |
| logicalStructure | inference from water surface shape to existence of absolute space ⓘ |
| relatedConcept |
Mach principle
ⓘ
surface form:
Mach’s principle
absolute rotation ⓘ centrifugal force ⓘ inertial frames of reference ⓘ |
| usedAgainst |
Leibnizian relationalism about space
ⓘ
purely relational theories of space ⓘ |
| usedToSupport |
Newtonian substantivalism about space
ⓘ
existence of absolute space ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.