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the first and second laws of newton are both similar, so why do we need the first law if it is the same as the second?

what is the big difference between these?

1 Answers1

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Although this has been answered many times already, anywhere on this site, the following holds:

First law (existence of inertial reference frames)

There exist in the universe some very particular reference frames where a point particle not subject to external forces moves in a straight line, i. e. $\dot{\textbf{p}}=0$.


Second law (equation of motion in the above defined)

In the very particular reference frames defined by the first law, whenever external forces act on the point particle, the equation of motion is of the form $\dot{\textbf{p}}= \textbf{F}(\textbf{r},\textbf{p})$.

I do not see how the two are similar. Also check this other answer of mine.

gented
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