Here's why:
* Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation: In the late 17th century, Newton formulated the law of universal gravitation, which states that every particle of matter in the universe attracts every other particle with a force that is proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
* Applying the Law to the Solar System: Newton applied this law to explain the motions of the planets around the Sun. He realized that the Sun's immense mass exerted a gravitational pull on the planets, keeping them in their orbits.
It's important to note that:
* Earlier Contributions: Scientists like Johannes Kepler and Galileo Galilei made significant contributions to understanding planetary motion before Newton. Kepler formulated his laws of planetary motion, and Galileo made observations that challenged the prevailing geocentric model of the universe.
* Einstein's Refinement: In the early 20th century, Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity provided a more complete understanding of gravity, but Newton's law still holds true for most everyday calculations concerning the solar system.
Therefore, while others contributed to our knowledge, Isaac Newton is the one who provided the foundational explanation for how gravitational forces hold the solar system together.
