What they knew and observed:
* Objects fall: This was evident to everyone. Early philosophers and thinkers like Aristotle proposed ideas about why things fell, often tying it to the idea of natural motion towards the center of the universe.
* The Moon orbits the Earth: This was also obvious. Early thinkers proposed ideas about what kept the Moon in place, often involving invisible forces or celestial spheres.
* The planets move: Observations of the planets' positions in the sky led to various models of planetary motion. Early models, like Ptolemy's, were complex and involved epicycles to explain the observed movements.
Challenges they faced:
* No concept of universal gravitation: Early thinkers lacked the concept of a single force that governed the behavior of all objects, from apples falling to planets orbiting the Sun. They saw these phenomena as separate.
* Lack of precise measurements: Without tools like telescopes and accurate clocks, they couldn't make precise observations of planetary motion or calculate distances. This limited their ability to develop accurate models.
* Limited understanding of mathematics: While the Greeks developed some sophisticated mathematics, they didn't have calculus or the tools needed to understand the relationship between forces and motion.
The breakthrough:
* Isaac Newton: In the 17th century, Newton revolutionized our understanding of gravity with his Law of Universal Gravitation. He combined observations of falling objects, the Moon's motion, and planetary motion to propose a universal law that described the attraction between any two objects with mass.
* Calculus: Newton also developed calculus, which gave him the mathematical tools to describe gravity's effects on motion.
In summary: Earlier scientists weren't blind to gravity's effects. They observed them, but lacked the tools, knowledge, and mathematical understanding needed to accurately describe and explain the force behind these phenomena. It was Newton's genius that led to the breakthrough in understanding gravity.
