Three laws proposed by Sir Isaac Newton (1642–1727) that state:

• First law: Every body continues in its state of rest or of uniform motion in a straight line unless acted on by an impressed force.

• Second law: The rate of change of momentum of a body is proportional to the impressed force and takes place in the direction of the force.

• Third law: To every action there is a reaction, which is equal and opposite to the action.