Inércia e espaço ebsoluto em três teorias mecânicas

Abstract

Newtonian mechanics, fundamental in basic physics studies, carries with it the notion of absolute space, through which the concept of inertia is also defined. One of the problems that led Einstein to formulate the equivalence principle, which would serve as the foundation for general relativity, was the equality between inertial mass and gravitational mass. Another mechanical theory, proposed by Assis, seeks to implement Ernst Mach's principles, asserting that a theory should rely only on relative quantities, thus avoiding dependence on the notion of absolute space. We explore the differences between these three mechanical theories regarding the concepts of inertia and absolute space. Through them, the authors Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, and André Assis present ontologically and epistemologically different foundations for physics, with key divergences in their views on the relativity of motion, the nature of space and time, and the origin of inertia. Through comparison, a deeper understanding of these concepts is possible, which can be applied to physics education.