t is the manuscript for what would become a biography of Newton entitled Memoirs of Sir Isaac Newton's Life written by William Stukeley, an archaeologist and one of Newton's first biographers, and published in 1752. Newton told the apple story to Stukeley, who relayed it as such:
"After dinner, the weather being warm, we went into the garden and drank thea, under the shade of some apple trees...he told me, he was just in the same situation, as when formerly, the notion of gravitation came into his mind. It was occasion'd by the fall of an apple, as he sat in contemplative mood. Why should that apple always descend perpendicularly to the ground, thought he to himself..."
The Royal Society has made the manuscript available today for the first time in a fully interactive digital form on their website at royalsociety.org/turning-the-pages.
g.lemaitre said:I decided to track down whether or not the story of Newton's apple did in fact happen. Here's what I found:
http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/culturelab/2010/01/Newtons-apple-the-real-story.html
So it looks like it's true.
...What sort of fruit are best to be used, and in what proportion they are to be mixed, and what degree of ripeness they ought to have? Whether it be material to press them as soon as gathered, or to pare them? Whether there be any circumstances to be observed in pressing them? or what is the best way to do it? If you can direct us to, or procure for us a short narrative of the way of making and ordering cyder in the cyder countries, which takes in a resolution of these, or the most material of these queries, you will oblige your humble servant,
"Is. Newton."
The story of Newton's apple is considered to be apocryphal, meaning it is of doubtful authenticity. It is not a factual account of how Newton came up with the theory of gravity, but rather a popular legend that has been passed down over time.
There is no evidence to suggest that Newton actually saw an apple fall from a tree. The story is likely a fictionalized version of how he observed objects falling and came up with the theory of gravity.
While the story of the falling apple is a popular legend, it is not the sole inspiration for Newton's theory of gravity. Newton's work was based on extensive research and experiments, and the falling apple story is just one of many popular myths that have been associated with his discoveries.
The story of Newton's apple has been widely popularized in literature and media as a way to explain complex scientific concepts in a more relatable and understandable way. However, it is important to recognize that the story is not entirely accurate and should not be taken as a literal account of Newton's discoveries.
While the story may be mentioned in some educational settings, it is not a part of mainstream scientific education. Most schools focus on teaching the actual scientific principles and theories, rather than popular legends or myths surrounding them.