To contradict the theory of gravity before it was proven to be a law, evidence would have needed to demonstrate that objects do not fall towards each other due to mass. This could include:
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Observations of Non-Newtonian Motion: If experiments or observations consistently showed that objects moved in a way that did not conform to gravitational predictions, such as moving away from each other without any force applied or following erratic paths unrelated to mass or distance.
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Experimental Evidence of Repulsive Forces: If there were evidence of a consistent force that repulsed masses from each other, overpowering the attractive force of gravity in various scenarios.
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Inconsistencies in Celestial Mechanics: If the motions of celestial bodies (like planets and moons) could not be accurately predicted using gravitational laws, indicating some other force or principle was governing their motion.
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Alternative Theories with Predictive Power: A robust alternative theory that could accurately explain gravitational phenomena better than Newton's law of universal gravitation, making predictions that could be experimentally verified.
Such evidence would challenge the fundamental understanding of gravity and potentially lead to a reevaluation or rejection of the theory.
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