Theories of gravity in history

In summary, Aristotle believed that gravity was caused by objects trying to find the center of the universe, which he believed was the center of the Earth. However, Newton's theory of gravity provided a better explanation, and there were heliocentric philosophers like Copernicus, Galileo, and Kepler who had theories about gravity before Newton. These philosophers did not have an explanation for gravity if the Earth was not the center of the universe. The geocentric philosophers also did not have an explanation for gravity, but their belief in a geocentric universe made the concept less offensive to their sense of symmetry. Newton's theory of universal gravitation restored this sense of symmetry by providing a universal explanation for gravity.
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windy miller
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As I understand Aristotle believed that gravity was caused by certain objects trying to find the centre of the universe which was of course at the centre of the Earth.
Newton gave us a better theory of gravity, but there were heliocentric philosophers before Newton. Not just Copernicus , Galileo and Kepler but going as far back as Aristarchus. So how did they explain gravity if Earth was not the centre?
 
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windy miller said:
So how did they explain gravity if Earth was not the centre?
They didn't. That's not a failure on their part - there are always unsolved problems at the edge of even the best theories, and that was one of their unsolved problems.

It's worth noting that the geocentric crowd didn't have an explanation of gravity either. It's just that in a geocentric view a mysterious force pulling things towards the center of the Earth is mysterious but not also offensive to our sense of symmetry, whereas in a non-geocentric view the the force is both mysterious and offensive to our sense of symmetry. It's not an accident that Newton's theory is often described as the the law of UNIVERSAL gravitation; and much of its aesthetic appeal comes because its universal nature recovers the symmetry that was lost when we abandoned the geocentric view.
 
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1. What is the history of theories of gravity?

The history of theories of gravity dates back to ancient civilizations, with early concepts proposed by Greek philosophers such as Aristotle and later refined by Galileo and Newton. In the 20th century, Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity revolutionized our understanding of gravity, and it continues to be a subject of ongoing research and debate.

2. How did Newton's theory of gravity differ from previous theories?

Newton's theory of gravity, also known as the law of universal gravitation, was a departure from earlier ideas that relied on a force acting between two objects to explain gravity. Instead, Newton proposed that gravity is a fundamental force of nature that depends on the mass of an object and the distance between objects.

3. What is the significance of Einstein's theory of general relativity?

Einstein's theory of general relativity is a more comprehensive and accurate explanation of gravity compared to Newton's theory. It takes into account the curvature of space-time caused by massive objects, providing a more precise understanding of how gravity works on a cosmic scale. It has also been confirmed through numerous experiments and observations, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of modern physics.

4. Are there any alternative theories to general relativity?

Yes, there are several alternative theories of gravity that have been proposed, such as modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND) and loop quantum gravity. These theories attempt to address some of the limitations of general relativity, such as its inability to fully explain the behavior of very large or very small objects. However, none have been able to fully replace or disprove general relativity.

5. How has our understanding of gravity evolved over time?

Our understanding of gravity has evolved significantly over time, from the earliest concepts of a static Earth at the center of the universe to the modern understanding of gravity as a fundamental force of nature. With the advancements in technology and scientific research, our understanding continues to deepen and expand, and it is likely that new discoveries will continue to shape our understanding of gravity in the future.

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