Force
Forces and Motion | Electricity and Magnetism

Evolution of scientific ideas

Teaching Guidance for 11-14 Supporting Physics Teaching

Evolving ideas of gravity

Here is an opportunity to demonstrate to pupils that scientific concepts are the products of the scientific community and therefore may evolve with time.

Aristotle suggested things fell to Earth because it was their natural place.

For Newton there were invisible threads linking all objects together.

A totally different approach was suggested by Einstein. He linked gravity to a distortion in the shape of space itself.

A current speculative idea is that invisible exchange particles called gravitons pass between all objects and that these somehow are responsible for transmitting the gravitational force effect.

Physics never stands still.

IOP AWARDS 2025

Teachers of Physics Awards

The Teachers of Physics Award celebrates the success of secondary school physics teachers who have raised the profile of physics and science in schools. Nominations for 2025 are now open.

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