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Smiling JW™
Lv 7
Smiling JW™ asked in Science & MathematicsPhysics · 8 years ago

Why did Newton call the attractive force of a mass, gravity?

Update:

Thanks first answer. That makes sense.

4 Answers

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  • oldprof
    Lv 7
    8 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Because that mysterious force made things heavy...gravis is Greek for heavy. [See source for origin.]

    By the way, note the first known use was in 1505, almost two centuries before Newton did his thing in the late 1600's. My point, he wasn't the first to use the term.

    Source(s): Origin of GRAVITY Middle French or Latin; Middle French gravité, from Latin gravitat-, gravitas, from gravis First Known Use: 1505
  • Anonymous
    8 years ago

    All words come from some where. Yes thank you first ans. It's a re-rendition of the word heavy. But if all words cane from somewhere, where did the original words come from?

  • Jody
    8 years ago

    The word gravity comes from gravitas, meaning heavy.

  • OldPilot
    Lv 7
    8 years ago

    Well, he had to call it something. What would you suggest?

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