A Central Result from Newton's Principia Mathematica: The Body of Least Resistance

Abstract: In Newton's Principia Mathematica fundamental theorems, e.g about the motion of planets around the sun, are proven by methods of ancient geometry rather than infinitesimal analysis, as one might expect. There are however problems in the Principia that are treated using techniques from calculus; we present one that in today's terminology belongs to the calculus of variations: to determine the shape of a rotationally symmetric body of prescribed base and height such that its resistance in a uniform fluid flow becomes minimal.

history and overview

Audience: researchers in the topic

Online Seminar "Geometric Analysis"

Series comments: We discuss recent trends related to geometric analysis in a broad sense. The general idea is to solve geometric problems by means of advanced tools in analysis. We will include a wide range of topics such as geometric flows, curvature functionals, discrete differential geometry, and numerical simulation.

Registration and links to videos available at blatt.sbg.ac.at/onlineseminar.php