Science

Wondering who invented gravity? Well, the answer to this very question is Isaac Newton. The story of that scientist and the apple is one of the most enduring tales in history. It is often told as a pivotal moment in which Newton supposedly discovered the law of universal gravitation by observing an apple falling from a tree. But is this story factual, or has it become more legend than science? Continue reading this comprehensive article to get more valuable insights on that! The Origins of the Apple Story Isaac Newton (1642-1727) was an English mathematician and physicist. He was best known for his groundbreaking work in motion as well as gravity, which shaped classical mechanics. One very famous story about him involves an apple. However, this tale only appears in accounts written long after his death. The earliest comes from William Stukeley in Memoirs of Sir Isaac Newton’s Life (1752). He recalls his conversation with Isaac Newton in the 1720s, where Newton discovered gravity by describing how observing a falling tree in his garden sparked his thoughts. He wondered why the apple always fell straight down. This is what led him to consider the forces governing motion. Not only this, but another acquaintance is also shared by John Conduitt. While both these stories came decades later, they suggest that Sir Isaac Newton may indeed have told them himself, blending a real moment of curiosity with a memorable image that captures the essence of scientific discovery. This shows the picture of Isaac Newton with apple. Separating Fact from Embellishment The story of the three apples that changed the world is famous, but it might not be completely true. There are no records from Newton’s own time that mention a falling apple in 1666 (the year he is said to have thought of gravity). His early writings and notebooks don’t even mention any of it. The whole story only shows up in later books and memoirs. This is probably because people wanted to show Newton as a brilliant thinker in an easier-to-understand way. Moreover, the tale also has a magical feeling like a lonely genius sitting under a big tree and suddenly having a big idea. Newton’s discoveries, in reality, took many years of case study, experiments, and calculations. The apple may have fallen, but the moment is made dramatic to inspire others. The Science Behind a Falling Apple Even if the apple literally didn’t make Newton think of gravity, it has become a symbol of curiosity and science. Gravity was not just discovered by an apple falling on Newton’s head. The apple may have helped him as a significant question: ‘Why do things fall on the ground on their own?’ Newton used a lot of experiments to clear this concern. He realised that the same force that makes an apple fall also keeps the Moon orbiting Earth and other planets around the Sun, which led to the formulation of the law of universal gravitation, expressed mathematically as; Fg=G(m1m2/r2) Where F is the gravitation force between two masses  m1 and m2, r is the radius between them, and G is the gravitational constant. The apple story is a way to show how did Isaac Newton discover gravity. For instance, he noticed something in nature, pondered about it, and used reasoning and mathematics to find a bigger truth about this query. So, it is a story of thinking like a scientist, not a literal discovery moment. Cultural Impact and Myth-Making The Isaac Newton tree apple story has been a cultural phenomenon. It is being taught in schools all over the world as an example of the scientific wisdom of a genius figure. There is also the story that the apple did hit the head of Newton, an image that was widely used in cartoons and literature. Although funny, there is no historical evidence as explained above, and that is why this is commonly thought to be a myth. This underscores how science and storytelling sometimes interwine. Legends like Newtons have helped communicate complex ideas simply. In a Crux Last, but not least, Isaac Newton did not make more discoveries overnight. He spent years studying, observing, and thinking of introducing the universal law of gravitation. Whether it really happened or not, the tale of the apple falling on a tree has become the genesis of scientific findings. It reminds us that even ordinary events can contribute to extraordinary ideas if we pay attention and ask ourselves questions. Newton’s expertise lay in connecting simpler observations to universal principles, showing that the same force that makes an apple fall also helps move the planets. The apple story also teaches us that science is not only about formulas and experiments, but also begins with wonder and the courage to explore the world around us.