Who discovered gravity?

The discovery of gravity is most famously attributed to Isaac Newton, who formulated the law of universal gravitation in the 17th century. He proposed that every mass attracts every other mass with a force that is proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers. This was a groundbreaking insight that explained not only falling objects but also the forces governing the motion of celestial bodies.

While Galileo Galilei contributed significantly to the understanding of motion and laid some groundwork in physics, particularly with his experiments on falling objects, it was Newton who articulated the comprehensive theory of gravity that tied together terrestrial and celestial phenomena. Albert Einstein later expanded upon Newton's concepts with his theory of general relativity, which refined our understanding of gravity, particularly in the context of large masses and at high speeds. Nikola Tesla, known for his contributions to electrical engineering, did not focus on gravity in the same way that Newton did.

Overall, Newton's formulation of the law of gravitation marked a pivotal moment in scientific history, establishing a foundational principle in physics that remains fundamental to our understanding of the universe today.