Question

The discoveries Newton made in physics were very important, but we going to focus on what he did with the heliocentric theory. How did his discovery of gravity affect his theory of how planets orbited the sun?

Answer 1

Isaac Newton discovered gravity, which explained not only why objects fall to Earth but also why planets orbit the sun in conic sections. His mathematical definition of gravity provided the missing link between empirical observations of planetary motion and a theoretical framework, supported by Émilie du Châtelet's work using calculus.

Step-by-step explanation:

Sir Isaac Newton's discovery of gravity was a monumental advancement in the understanding of astronomical motions, including the heliocentric theory. Newton's insight that the same force causing objects to fall on Earth—gravity—also governs the motions of celestial bodies was revolutionary. His formulation of a precise mathematical form for gravity, described by his Law of Universal Gravitation, provided the explanation for why planets orbit the sun in specific paths: conic sections such as circles and ellipses. Newton proposed that the force of gravity acts between all material bodies, meaning that the gravity of the Sun could exert a force on planets to keep them in their orbits around it.

The implications of Newton's work were substantial, leading to the acceptance of his laws as the foundation of classical mechanics. His work built upon the observations and laws formulated by Johannes Kepler, and it was later supported by the work of other scientists like Émilie du Châtelet, who helped establish Newtonian gravity's acceptance through translation and explanation using calculus.