Physics & Mechanics
Concept of relative motion
499 CEAryabhataAryabhatiyaPan-Indian / unspecified
499 CE
Compared the apparent motion of stars to a person on a moving boat seeing the shore move.
- Dated
- 499 CE
- As scholars put it
- 499 CE
- Originator
- Aryabhata
- Source text
- Aryabhatiya
- Region
- Pan-Indian / unspecified
- Discipline
- Physics & Mechanics
- Evidence
- Documented
- Confidence
- Medium
- Verification
- Reference-cited
Meanwhile in the West
Relative motion is basic to Galilean/Newtonian physics.
Fair to say
An analogy about perception, not a developed theory of relativity.
Path to modern innovation
A clear grasp of relativity of apparent motion.
Transmission
Independent illustration.
Primary sources
- 3The Aryabhatiya Of AryabhataUnreviewed
- 4Aryabhatiya of Aryabhata: 3 volumesUnreviewed
References
- 1Aryabhatiya (499 CE)
Further reading
Corrections and additional sources: edit IND-049 on GitHub.