Newton wasn’t they only person working on Gravity. Robert Hooke (and others) developed a lot of the theoretical backing for Gravity. He just didn’t know Calculus so he couldn’t connect theory to observations. Imo, the popular picture of Newton is largely of his own design; he used his position of power to take credit for things like Calculus and Gravity and downplay those who help contribute.
Gravity like most discoveries wasn’t divined in a single moment by a single person but was dozens of astronomers, physicists, and mathematicians asking questions and pushing the boundaries of our understanding. Newton once said he was standing on the shoulders of giants because he couldn’t have made the discoveries he did without those before and around him.
The_Last_Y t1_j28s7no wrote
Reply to comment by Obvious_Swimming3227 in Before Newton, how did people explain falling apples? by maugustus
Newton wasn’t they only person working on Gravity. Robert Hooke (and others) developed a lot of the theoretical backing for Gravity. He just didn’t know Calculus so he couldn’t connect theory to observations. Imo, the popular picture of Newton is largely of his own design; he used his position of power to take credit for things like Calculus and Gravity and downplay those who help contribute.
Gravity like most discoveries wasn’t divined in a single moment by a single person but was dozens of astronomers, physicists, and mathematicians asking questions and pushing the boundaries of our understanding. Newton once said he was standing on the shoulders of giants because he couldn’t have made the discoveries he did without those before and around him.