Which famous scientist developed the law of gravity?

Prepare for the Key Stage 3 General Knowledge Test with our interactive quizzes. Explore multiple subjects with flashcards and practice questions to enhance your learning and confidence for the exam!

Isaac Newton is renowned for formulating the law of universal gravitation, which describes the gravitational force between two masses. His groundbreaking work in the late 17th century established that every particle of matter in the universe attracts every other particle with a force that depends on their masses and the distance between them. This principle explained not only the falling of objects to the ground but also the motion of celestial bodies, such as planets orbiting the sun. Newton's law was a central part of his work "Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica," published in 1687, which laid the groundwork for classical mechanics and greatly influenced the scientific revolution.

Other scientists mentioned contributed significantly to physics and our understanding of the universe, but they did not specifically formulate the law of gravity as Newton did. Albert Einstein, for instance, developed the theory of general relativity, which expanded on Newton's ideas about gravity but did not create the original laws associated with it. Galileo Galilei conducted important experiments related to motion and gravity, but his work did not produce a formal law of gravity. Nikola Tesla is famous for his work in electrical engineering and electromagnetism, rather than gravitation.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy