Newton’s Proposition 57, considering a multiple body system.

Ethan Westgate.

Within Newton’s Book 1, proposition 57 there are many questions. The

question that strikes me is this: How does this perspective change make us view the

solar system? The prop is about a two-bodied system, however given that his entire

project is about our solar system it is a valid question as to how this prop relates to

a many-bodied system.

“If two bodies attract each other with any forces whatever and at the same time

revolve about their common center of gravity, I say that by the action of the same

forces there can be described around either body if unmoved a figure similar and

equal to the figures that the bodies so moving describer around each other.” –

Principia Proposition 57, Sir Isaac Newton

The six primary planets revolve about the sun in circles concentric with the sun, with

the same direction of motion, and very nearly the same plane. Ten moons revolve

about the earth, Jupiter, and Saturn in concentric circles, with the same direction of

motion, and very nearly in the planes of the orbits of the planets. – Principia, General

Scholium, Sir Isaac Newton

Firstly we must look at what the prop says. In general terms proposition 57

allows us to use Newton’s previous propositions which used a stationary body

generating a attractive force on an orbiting body; while understanding that more

truthfully both bodies act on each other, to different degrees, and that the two

bodies revolve around a point which is the mathematical point of balance as it were
between the two attractive forces. The genius of this proposition is the ability to

transfer from the two points of view as the ease takes us. In reality most of the

situations, which we might look at astronomically, e.g. the Earth and the Moon, the

Sun and the Planets, are such that the first situation is the easiest to look at. The sun

is so massive in comparison to the other planets that while there is a point of

mathematical equilibrium of the forces, that center must surely be within the

surface of the sun itself; Similarly the planets and their satellite moons. Nevertheless

it is important to realize the more true answer, and also the answer gives us a good

explanation as to why the sun appears to move, relative to the year.

A question arises on how we are to interpret this shift in perspective in our

multi-bodied solar system. How do these common centers of gravity play with each

other? Again there are a number of ways to look at this. The first step is to take the

most complicated derivation of this proposition and then begin to factor in Newton’s

conclusions in his general scholium, and take out any excess information that was

placed in the system in error. The next step will be to take the most simplistic view

and then add in the complications that Newton himself talked about and add in any

information that was left out in error.

 Starting with the proposition’s diagrams (see A1 and A2). Again we see that

these diagrams are essentially the same, with only the addition of mutual attraction.

The simplicity of the system is apparent in the diagram itself. But again, how does

this work with other planets? With five major bodies orbiting around a common

fixture, the sun, how do these planets affect each other in regards to the orbits?

The problems that arise from this, is the line that is drawn between the

Primary body and the secondary body. The easiest solution on envisioning such

lines in a multiple body system is to have a single line. This is obviously against
experience; to have all the bodies gathered along a single line traveling at the same

angular speed would cause massive problems in-and-of-itself. Unless the Primary

body is truly massive, the sheer numbers of planets along the same line should drag

the CCoG (Common Center of Gravity), to the point where there is the large Primary

body revolving around one of the smaller planets, with the other planets revolving

along the same line. This is similar to Tyco Brahe’s model of the solar system, and

one that does not require the earth to move. Nevertheless that kind of force must

put a tremendous strain on the central planet, which would have to cause much

greater effects on such things as the tide than what we see. Besides this Newton

himself tosses out the idea that the earth is stationary.

 The necessity of proposition 58 is obvious the moment one begins to look at

the other diagrams. Transferring from a single bodied system to a multiple body

system, the no-CCoG system, even the chaotic one, is simplistic compared to the

CCoG system. Nevertheless even the CCoG system offers important insight on how a

system must look given the facts.

The primary difficulty with the chaotic systems is that they would force the

Primary body to either be at the exact center, eliminating the need for a CCoG

system, or the CCoG would be spiraling around, and idea Newton tosses out by
making it a definitional part of the CCoG that it can only be perfectly stationary or

traveling in a straight line.

In the end, the mere facts that Newton uses to support his assertion for the

existence of god force us into the more truthful system. In order for all the planets to

travel in the same direction, they must be traveling along similar axis of orbits. In

order for the CCoG to be relatively stationary, the planets must be traveling in

relatively unhindered orbits relative to each other. Proposition 57 not only gives us

a valuable visual tool to look at our solar system, but also the only system which fits
the facts which Newton has available. The perfect simplicity of this system ,

combined with the strange enforcement via planetary motion, make this among the

‘coolest’ and most fascinating props Newton uses in the entire project.