2011/05/19 by Martin Holder, Holder, Martin
Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Historical Astronomy and Related Studies #History and Developments in Astronomy #History and Philosophy of Physics (physics.hist-ph)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1105.3964
openalex publication_date 2011/05/19 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Although the differential calculus was invented by Newton, Kepler established his famous laws 70 years earlier by using the same idea, namely to find a path in a nonuniform field of force by small steps. It is generally not known that Kepler demonstrated the elliptic orbit to be composed of intelligeable differential pieces, in modern language, to result from a differential equation. Kepler was first to attribute planetary orbits to a force from the sun, rather than giving them a predetermined geometric shape. Even though neither the force was known nor its relation to motion, he could determine the differential equations of motion from observation. This is one of the most important achievements in the history of physics. In contrast to Newton's Principia and Galilei's Dialogo Kepler's text is not easy to read, for various reasons. Therefore, in the present article, his results -- most of them well known -- are first presented in modern language. Then, in order to justify the claim, the full text of some relevant chapters of Astronomia Nova is presented. The translation from latin is by the present author, with apologies for its shortcomings.