Paper, 'Lex naturae de collisione corporum' ['The law of nature concerning the collision of bodies'] by Christopher Wren

Reference number: CLP/3i/43

Date: 1668

Description

Christopher Wren's theory of the collision of bodies. Although it was reported to the Royal Society on 17 December 1668 and printed in 'Philosophical Transactions' (January 1669), Wren argued that he had developed his theory around the time of the foundation of the Society (1660) and that the late Lawrence Rooke (1622-1662) had done trials to verify the theory.

Subject: Mechanics

Published in Philosophical Transactions as 'Dr Christopher Wrens Theory concerning the same Subject'.

Read to the Royal Society on 17 December 1668.

Reference number: CLP/3i/43
Earliest possible date: 1668
Physical description: Ink on paper
Page extent: 1 page
Format: Manuscript

Creator name

Christopher Wren

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Citation

Christopher Wren, Paper, 'Lex naturae de collisione corporum' ['The law of nature concerning the collision of bodies'] by Christopher Wren, 1668, CLP/3i/43, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_3i_43/paper-lex-naturae-de-collisione-corporum-the-law-of-nature-concerning-the-collision-of-bodies-by-christopher-wren, accessed on 22 July 2026

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https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_3i_43/paper-lex-naturae-de-collisione-corporum-the-law-of-nature-concerning-the-collision-of-bodies-by-christopher-wren

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Related Publications

A summary account given by Dr. John Wallis, of the general laws of motion, by way of letter written by him to the Publisher, and communicated to the R. Society, Novemb. 26. 1668. Dr Christopher Wrens theory concerning the same subject; imparted to the Royal Society Decemb. 17 last, though entertain'd by the author divers years ago, and verified by many experiments, made by himself and that other excellent mathematician M. Rook before the said Society, as is attested by many worthy members of that illus External link, opens in new tab.

Date: 31st December 1668

DOI: 10.1098/rstl.1668.0064

Related Records

Dr Christopher Wren's hypothesis of motion
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Paper, 'A summary account given by Dr John Wallis of the general laws of motion' by John Wallis
Creator: John Wallis Reference number: CLP/3i/42

Hierarchy

This item is part of:

Classified papers of the Royal Society
1660-1741 Reference number: CLP
Classified papers: volume 3i concerning 'Mechanicks, Trades, Engineering, Navigation'
Reference number: CLP/3i

Related Fellows

Lawrence Rooke
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Christopher Wren
Author

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Classified Papers

The 'Classified Papers' of the Royal Society are papers from British and international natural philosophers and scholars categorised according to subject areas.

Dates: 1592 - 1741

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