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Concept
Timeline of gravitational physics and relativity
Summary
The following is a timeline of gravitational physics and general relativity.
3rd century BC – Aristarchus of Samos proposes heliocentric model, measures the distance to the Moon and its size
1543 – Nicolaus Copernicus places the Sun at the gravitational center, starting a revolution in science
1583 – Galileo Galilei induces the period relationship of a pendulum from observations (according to later biographer).
1586 – Simon Stevin demonstrates that two objects of different mass accelerate at the same rate when dropped.
1589 – Galileo describes a hydrostatic balance for measuring specific gravity.
1590 – Galileo formulates modified Aristotelean theory of motion (later retracted) based on density rather than weight of objects.
1602 – Galileo conducts experiments on pendulum motion.
1604 – Galileo conducts experiments with inclined planes and induces the law of falling objects.
1607 – Galileo derives a mathematical formulation of the law of falling objects based on his earlier experiments.
1608 – Galileo discovers the parabolic arc of projectiles through experiment.
1609 – Johannes Kepler his first two laws of planetary motion.
1619 – Johannes Kepler publishes his third law of planetary motion.
1665 – Isaac Newton introduces an inverse-square universal law of gravitation uniting terrestrial and celestial theories of motion and uses it to predict the orbit of the Moon and the parabolic arc of projectiles.
1684 – Newton proves that planets moving under an inverse-square force law will obey Kepler's laws in a letter to Edmond Halley.
1686 – Newton uses a fixed length pendulum with weights of varying composition to test the weak equivalence principle to 1 part in 1000.
1686 – Newton publishes his Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, where he develops his calculus, states his laws of motion and gravitation, proves the shell theorem, explains the tides, and calculates the figure of the Earth.
1705 – Edmond Halley predicts the return of Halley's comet in 1758, the first use of Newton's laws by someone other than Newton himself.
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