1. © Oxford University Press 2009 12.4a Falling Long ago, scientists thought that heavier things fell faster than light ones. Galileo, an Italian scientist who live about 400 years ago, thought that everything fell at the same rate.

2. © Oxford University Press 2009 12.4a Falling The story goes that Galileo dropped a wooden ball and a heavier cannonball from the top of the leaning tower of Pisa. They both landed at the same time.

3. © Oxford University Press 2009 12.4a Falling Newton Another story says that Newton was sitting under an apple tree when an apple fell on his head. Newton said that the apple fell because it was attracted to Earth due to gravity.

4. © Oxford University Press 2009 12.4a Falling Gravity Did Newton discover gravity? Not really. Everyone knew that things fell to the ground if not supported. But Newton went on to calculate the force of gravity, not just on Earth but in the wider Universe as well.