Before the theory of gravity was proven to be a law, there were several pieces of evidence that could have potentially refuted the theory. These would include:
1. Objects defying the notion of gravitational attraction: If there were documented incidents of objects consistently defying gravity and not following the expected patterns of attraction towards larger masses, it would have challenged the theory.
2. Inconsistent observations of celestial bodies: If observations of planets, moons, or other celestial bodies consistently showed patterns contradicting the predictions based on gravity, it would have raised doubts about the theory.
3. Discrepancies in orbital mechanics: Orbital mechanics is based on the concept of gravity. If there were inconsistencies in the calculated positions and predicted paths of objects in orbit, it would have contradicted the theory.
4. Alternative explanations: If an alternative theory or hypothesis emerged that explained the observed phenomena more accurately or more comprehensively than gravity, it would have cast doubt on the validity of the theory.
5. Lack of repeatable experiments: If experiments specifically designed to test the effects of gravity consistently produced results different from what was predicted by the theory, it would have called into question the validity of the theory.
It is important to note that scientific theories are not easily refuted by a single piece of evidence or observation. Theories are built upon a vast body of evidence, and the refutation process typically involves multiple lines of evidence converging against the theory. In the case of gravity, it took a significant accumulation of evidence and observations before it was established as a law.
what evidence would have been needed to refute the theory of gravity before it was proven to be a law
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