Why did Newton think the apple was pulled, not pushed?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the reasoning behind Newton's interpretation of gravitational force, specifically why he considered gravity to be a pulling force rather than a pushing force. Participants explore historical context, implications for understanding celestial and terrestrial motion, and the conceptual frameworks of gravitational theories.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question why Newton did not consider a pushing force acting on the apple, suggesting an alternative perspective on gravitational force.
  • Others reference historical models, such as Ptolemy's, to highlight the complications that arise from different conceptualizations of force.
  • A participant notes that the distinction between pulling and pushing may not be relevant as long as the quantitative predictions remain consistent.
  • One viewpoint emphasizes that Newton's thinking extended beyond the apple to include planetary motion, suggesting a broader application of gravitational principles.
  • Another participant asserts that the concept of push gravity has been discredited, referencing historical theories that have fallen out of favor.
  • A later reply argues that assuming gravity as a pull leads to simpler and more effective theories that accurately predict various phenomena, while push theories result in complications and less predictive power.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of gravitational force, with some advocating for the pull model and others suggesting the push model. The discussion remains unresolved, with no consensus on the validity of either perspective.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the historical context of Newton's time and the implications of different gravitational models, but do not resolve the complexities or assumptions underlying these models.

Mojonski
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i was wondering, instead of thinking the apple was pulled down by some force to Earth , why didn't he think that there was a force pushed the apple down from above? , imagine when you leave in that particular year when he was alive.
 
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Reminds me of the horrible (and unnecessary) complication of Ptolemy's model for the universe.
 
Mojonski said:
i was wondering, instead of thinking the apple was pulled down by some force to Earth , why didn't he think that there was a force pushed the apple down from above?
Newton quantified the force acting bodies in a gravitational field, and that is all you need to predict how the bodies will move. Whether you call it "pulling" or "pushing" is not relevant to physics, as long it's the same force quantitatively.
 
I think the answer is that he wasn't just thinking about the apple but planets as well.
 
Mojonski said:
i was wondering, instead of thinking the apple was pulled down by some force to Earth , why didn't he think that there was a force pushed the apple down from above? , imagine when you leave in that particular year when he was alive.

If you assume that gravity is a pull, you end up with a simple theory that correctly predicts not only the behavior of the apple, but also the motion of the planets, the ballistic trajectories of thrown objects, the tides, and many other phenomena. If you assume that gravity is a push, you end up with a complicated theory that correctly predicts nothing (except for making a non-quantitative prediction that dropped objects fall, which isn't exactly a brilliant new discovery).

Thus, Newton's insight was that we could try thinking in terms of pull instead of push. Then he tried it, and it worked so well that he (and the rest of humanity ever since) have run with it.
 

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