in newton's time, astronomers had figured out that the earth and other planets go around the sun.
what they didn't understand is why. obviously the sun illuminated the planets, but what made the planets go around it? one illustration showed angels pushing the planets in their orbits. another idea was maybe the sun was magnetic. newton's revelation was that gravity, which made apples fall, was the same force that made the planets orbit the sun.
lovethemstars t1_j29oy1e wrote
Reply to Before Newton, how did people explain falling apples? by maugustus
in newton's time, astronomers had figured out that the earth and other planets go around the sun.
what they didn't understand is why. obviously the sun illuminated the planets, but what made the planets go around it? one illustration showed angels pushing the planets in their orbits. another idea was maybe the sun was magnetic. newton's revelation was that gravity, which made apples fall, was the same force that made the planets orbit the sun.