Which scientific figure is known for formulating the laws of motion and universal gravitation?

The figure recognized for formulating the laws of motion and universal gravitation is Isaac Newton. His three laws of motion describe the relationship between a body and the forces acting upon it, explaining how objects move in response to those forces. The law of universal gravitation describes the attraction between two masses, establishing that the force of gravity decreases with the square of the distance between the objects.

Newton’s work laid the foundation for classical mechanics and significantly advanced our understanding of both physics and astronomy. His contributions not only provided a framework for understanding motion but also explained celestial phenomena, influencing various fields and subsequent scientific inquiry.

In contrast, other figures such as Galileo focused more on the principles of inertia and the scientific method, while Copernicus developed a heliocentric model of the solar system, and Kepler is known for his laws of planetary motion. While all of these scientists made vital contributions to the development of modern science, it is Newton who synthesized these ideas into coherent laws that describe motion and gravitational interaction.