When Newton “discovered” gravity, were his people something like “well DUHH!”?
‘Newton’s postulate of an invisible force able to act over vast distances led to him being criticised for introducing “occult agencies” into science’ Newton worked out his theories of universal gravitation and mechanics from 1679 onwards. During this period he corresponded with Robert Hooke and the Royal Society. He later corresponded with the astronomer John Flamsteed during the winter of 1680/81 concerning a comet that appeared that year. Newton’s gravitational theory was based upon Kepler’s Laws of planetary motion and a heliocentric solar system. ‘… After the exchanges with Hooke, Newton worked out a proof that the elliptical form of planetary orbits would result from a centripetal force inversely proportional to the square of the radius vector. Newton communicated his results to Edmond Halley and to the Royal Society in De motu corporum in gyrum, a tract written on about 9 sheets which was copied into the Royal Society’s Register Book in December 1684. The Principia was publishe
