Re: How can I tell if F is a string or if it is a number?

On Apr 9, 10:55 am, tc...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
In article <c3d12d4f-028d-4568-87eb-c7254c6f2...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,

Your question is whether the symbol "F" is merely an *abbreviation* for the
longer expression "m*a".

Thank you! Abbreviation was the word that was eluding me!

it's only empirically, by performing experiments, that we
know that force is proportional to acceleration. This empirical observation
is known as Newton's second law of motion: F = m*a.

If "F" were just an abbreviation for
"m*a" then that would be just a purely logical fact and would not tell us
anything about what physical laws happen to hold in our universe.

Why logical? I would say that an abbreviation is notation, it is a
time saving device. If F is an abbreviation it would tell a lot about
what physical laws happen to hold in our universe. It would tell us
that those laws do not involve force.

But, I now think I understand the problem. F=ma is actually two
expressions:

F_occult = m_occult a
F_contact = m_weight a

F_contact is the force used in the science of mechanics and it is the
force of weights and pulleys. Newton overlayed his occult force
F_occult on this contact force and utterly confused the issue. I am
talking about F_occult. This is the force used in Newtonian
theoretical astronomical derivations but F_occult always cancels out
of the formulas used to calculate orbits. So F_contact may be an
empirical force but F_occult is not. It has never be observed. It
always cancels out of the orbital formulas. That's why I am
questioning the assumption that force is a "physical quantity."

If so, do you think it is relevant that if F can be replaced for ma
it's an abbreviation? Thanks for the help.
.