Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from A History of the Mathematical Theories of Attraction and the Figure of the Earth, Vol. 1 of 2: From the Time of Newton to That of Laplace
Newton originated the idea of investigating the Figure of the Earth on the supposition that it might be treated as a homogeneous ?uid rotating with uniform angular velocity. He assumed as a postulate that there could be relative equilibrium in such a case if the form were that of an oblate ellipsoid of revolution; and he determined the ratio of the axes and the law of variation of gravity at the surface. The investigation, though not free from imperfection, is a rare example of success in the first discussion of a most difficult problem, and constitutes an enduring monument to the surpassing ability of its author.
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