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Physics

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    $\begingroup$ I don't think your argument for linearity makes much sense. $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 2, 2015 at 9:10
  • $\begingroup$ @Nit: Could you develop? $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 2, 2015 at 9:47
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    $\begingroup$ You could expand the concept - a natural/obvious/default relation is a flat one, where something is constant. Say, the amount of energy required to remove a single atom out of a certain crystallic structure in process of melting it. Integrating this constant effect it over a variable results in an exponent of 1 - i.e. energy for melting as proportional to the number of atoms. For other relations you get to the second power, etc. $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 2, 2015 at 9:55
  • $\begingroup$ @Peteris: Of course one can deepen the answer, but I think the answer matches the question, which is quite general and non-technical. You can ask another question for more detailed answer. $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 3, 2015 at 10:07
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    $\begingroup$ why is $1/r^2$ in the gravity formula instead of $1/r^{2.0000001}$ $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 4, 2015 at 2:09