La moindre petite force peut mouvoir un corps sur un plan horizontal : l'emergence d'un principe mécanique et son devenir cosmologique / Egidio Festa, Sophie Roux.
Abstract:
The smallest force suffices to move a body on the horizontal plane : the emergence of a mechanical principle and its cosmological fate - The paper focuses on the principle that a minimal force can move a body on a circular plane, which eventually developed into the Galilean circular inertia, according to which such a body stays either in a state of rest or in a state of uniform circular motion. Cardan, Varron and Benedetti had already defended such a principle; Galileo however 1) gives geometrical demonstrations (De Motu), 2) affirms that a body on a circular plane is in a state of indifference towards rest or motion (longer version of Le Mecaniche). From this state of indifference, it would be logical to deduce circular inertia, but Galileo did not take that step in Le Mecaniche. In the De Motu he had already asked himself if a natural circular motion would go on perpetually, but neither answered the question nor linked it to the principle that a minimal force can move a body on a circular plane. Contrary to these earlier writings, the Dialogo develops thoroughly the cosmologic and cosmogonic implications of circular inertia.
Galilaeana A. 3 (2006), p. 123-147