Cadet Competition Written Practice Exam

Which scientist is known for formulating the Law of Universal Gravitation?

1. Albert Einstein

2. Nicolas Copernicus

3. Isaac Newton

4. Galileo Galilei

The correct answer is: Isaac Newton

The scientist known for formulating the Law of Universal Gravitation is Isaac Newton. In the late 17th century, Newton proposed that every mass attracts every other mass in the universe, and this attraction is proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers. This law provided a unified description of gravity and explained not only the motion of objects on Earth but also the orbits of planets and moons in space, fundamentally changing the understanding of mechanics and celestial motion. Newton's formulation helped lay the groundwork for classical physics, bridging the gap between terrestrial and celestial mechanics. His work articulated how gravity operates in a mathematical framework, allowing for predictions about the movements of celestial bodies, which greatly advanced astronomy and the sciences. The other scientists mentioned made significant contributions to science but did not develop the Law of Universal Gravitation. Albert Einstein, for instance, introduced the theory of general relativity in the early 20th century, which provided a deeper understanding of gravity but was a departure from Newtonian concepts. Nicolas Copernicus is known for his heliocentric model of the solar system, which placed the Sun at the center rather than the Earth. Galileo Galilei contributed to the understanding of motion and gravity through