Informational Articals - Gravity - Gravity Experiments

Over the past five Centuries there have been various gravity experiments that served to provide use with valuable information on this concept. One of the earliest recorded gravity experiments took place in the 16th Century under the direction of Galileo Galilei. He dropped a series of balls from the top of the Tower of Pisa as well a recorded the speed of these balls being put into motion on an incline.

With these experiments Galileo was able to prove that all objects experience gravity at the same size regardless of the weight of the object. His theory was rejected by those who followed the works of Aristotle. However Galileo was able to verify that lighter objects fall slower due to the amount of resistance caused by the air, not due to the concept of gravity.

In 1687 Sir Isaac Newton took the work of Galileo to a new level when he began experimenting with how gravity affects the way the planets orbit the sun. This lead to the discovery of the planet Neptune. Through his various gravity experiments Newton was able to come up with his Law of Gravity concepts.

It was in 1915 that Albert Einstein did his own experiments to verify the works of Newton. He found that information relating to the orbit patterns of Mercury were incorrect. It is believed the differences could be the result of the lack of equipment Newton had in 1687 or that they pattern of the orbit of Mercury had changed.

Since these early gravity experiments there have been plenty more on a local scale and globally. Many science teachers implement gravity experiments that their students can do at home and in the classroom. They are designed to make children more aware of the presence of gravity in all aspects. You can find various gravity experiments that you can try at school and at home on the internet.

Scientists and researchers have used various experiments with gravity to allow space travel to the moon. The training programs for astronauts are conducted with the concepts of gravity in that environment in mind. These gravity experiments have allowed us to learn a great deal about the moon, the planets, and how the entire solar system is operating.