German teen solves 300-year-old mathematical riddle posed by Sir Isaac Newton

[Chris_]

German teen solves 300-year-old mathematical riddle posed by Sir Isaac Newton

Shouryya Ray worked out how to calculate exactly the path of a projectile under gravity and subject to air resistance, The London Sunday Times reported.

Newton posed the problem, relating to the movement of projectiles through the air, in the 17th century. Mathematicians had only been able to offer partial solutions until now.

If that wasn't enough of an achievement, Ray has also solved a second problem, dealing with the collision of a body with a wall, that was posed in the 19th century.

NewsCore

If nobody has ever solved it, how do they know this is the correct answer?

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

If nobody has ever solved it, how do they know this is the correct answer?

You can measure practical results against predicted outcomes.

No doubt weapon designers will be all over this.

[JohnnyReb]

If I remember correctly...the Germans in WW1 got close.

The Paris siege guns were firing at an angle of 54 degrees to take advantage of less air resistance in the upper atmosphere. They were firing 75 miles into the city of Paris and reading the Paris papers the next day to see where they hit. Yes, I guess France had their version of the New York Slimes.