Question
What were the views of Greek philosopher Aristotle about the state of motion of objects?
Solution
The Greek philosopher Aristotle (384–324 B.C.) asserted that the natural state of a body is the state of rest. Every single body in motion tends to slow down and comes to rest. An external force is necessary to maintain its motion.
For example, a cart on a road has to be constantly pushed to keep it in motion. A single push will not take it far.
With such observations, Aristotle concluded that an external force is necessary to keep a body moving.
However, these views were proved wrong by Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) later on.
