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Gary Goss

Physics 3/4 (Honors)

Philip Estrada

16 December 2020

A Polite Conversation with Isaac Newton

Isaac:​ Good sir, what caused you to order that cup of Guava Black Iced Tea Lemonade™?

Gary:​ Excuse me?

Isaac:​ As you can see by my 18th century clothing, I’ve recently been transported to this

establishment, by what seems like time travel. There’s not much else to do.

Gary:​ Is there not? Okay, nice chatti-

Isaac:​ ​Well​ I thought it would be splendid to discuss!

Gary:​ Alright… well, the neurons in my brain dictated my body and face movements, which

allows me to order a drink, or even function. My brain knew I wanted a Guava Black Iced Tea

Lemonade™ because I was dehydrated, and getting that refreshing cup of Guava Black Iced Tea

Lemonade™ typically signals the reward centers in my brain.

Isaac:​ Think bigger! Think outside yourself for once, I’ve heard you gen-zers are incredibly

self-centered, and it definitely shows. What in god's name ​pushed​ you to order that

hazardous-waste-colored drink?

Gary:​ Rude, but I see your point. Our society and environment plays a really huge role in

shaping who we are. There’s a reason I’d have a harder time connecting with a stranger from

rural Arkansas, but a much easier time connecting with someone from Los Angeles. The things

and ideas we’re exposed to in our day to day life dictates our perception of ourselves and those

around us, and informs what we want for ourselves. Living in Southern California, there’s a
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Starbucks on every other street block, and we can’t get enough of it. So, I’ve also gotten in the

habit of coming every once in a while to buy my “hazardous-waste-colored drink.”

Isaac:​ You’re clearly not getting it. I’m Isaac Newton! The man who invented modern physics,

and had that stupid apple tree story written about me! I couldn’t care less about your simplistic

psychological and societal analysis. What ​physically​ caused you to order that disgusting drink?

Gary:​ Look old man, I’m not sure what you’re getting at here. If you wanted a discussion on

physics all along, why not just tell me?

Isaac:​ Are… are you serious?

Gary:​ If you’re such a genius, let’s hear it then. What caused me to order that drink, by your

voodoo physics logic?

Isaac:​ Well, my first law states that “an object either remains at rest or continues to move at a

constant velocity, unless acted upon by a force.” Do you really have the free will to order your

drink, or are you just going through the motions of physics?

Gary:​ Interesting question. This reminds me a lot of the butterfly effect. As one object is in

motion, it will have an impact on the world around it. For example, walking down the street

impacts those around me, as others around me would have to avoid running into me. On the

other hand, if a force were to act upon my walking and stop me, there would now be other

opportunities for other objects or people to take that space. But that in and of itself could cause a

chain reaction, influencing the actions of others. So, theoretically, my actions could have been

influenced by the physical actions and interia of others from the beginning of time, all leading up

to me ordering this Guava Black Iced Tea Lemonade™… which is a scary thought.
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Isaac:​ You’re annoying. Anyways, “the acceleration of an object as produced by a net force is

directly proportional to the magnitude of the net force, in the same direction as the net force, and

inversely proportional to the mass of the object.” How does this bode for your free will?

Gary:​ Well, wouldn’t that require a specific amount of force in order to move an object? It

seems that in order to pick up a Starbucks drink, let alone take out the credit card from my wallet

to pay, I’ll have to apply an amount of force equal to the reaction I hope to see from the object.

Picking up the drink, I can’t just lightly grab it and hope for the best; I’d have to take my arm

and apply some extra bit of force on that object to pick it up and hold it. If I apply too much

force, I’d likely break the cup and spill the drink all over myself. For a heavier item like a brick,

I’ll need to apply a greater amount of force in order to pick it up. This seems to be an

infringement on my free will—I can’t just use the force I’d like to use.

Isaac:​ Sounds about right, you’re not as dimwitted as you come across.

Gary:​ Thanks. Can I go home now? I’ve missed my bus twice because of you.

Isaac:​ Hear me out now…

Gary:​ Oh god…

Isaac:​ …”When one body exerts a force on a second body, the second body simultaneously

exerts a force equal in magnitude and opposite in direction on the first body.” Do you feel that

this might inhibit your free will?

Gary:​ Much like the last idea you threw at me, it seems like the laws of physics work against my

free will. The force I exert on an object is directly reciprocated, meaning to get the desired

reaction, a precise amount of force must be applied.

Isaac:​ …and…?

Gary:​ “And” what?

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Isaac:​ Are you entirely certain physics is as limiting as you make it seem?

Gary:​ Hmm. To be fair, the laws of physics can actually give us a lot of free will, too. The

ability to exert specific amounts of force on objects to get what we want can be freeing. The

ability to order my Guava Black Iced Tea Lemonade™ with the power of physics also allows me

to walk, move, and interact with the world around me with the levels of force and inertia I want

to have. Perhaps I don’t hate physics as much as I thought I did.

Isaac:​ Precisely!

Gary:​ Great. Can I go now?

Isaac:​ Whatever. By chance, do you know how to get to London from here?
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References

National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (2015, May 5). Newton's Laws of Motion.

Retrieved from https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/newton.html

Lucas, J. (2017, September 27). Newton's Laws of Motion. Retrieved from

https://www.livescience.com/46558-laws-of-motion.html

T. (n.d.). Inertia and Mass. Retrieved December 9, 2020, from

https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/newtlaws/Lesson-1/Inertia-and-Mass