What was the MOST important difference between the development of Isaac Newton's theory of planetary motion and that of Johannes Kepler?
A) Newton developed his theory from basic physical assumptions, whereas Kepler simply adjusted his theory to fit the data.
B) Newton lived in England, which is famous for clear skies, whereas Kepler lived on the continent, which is notorious for bad weather.
C) Newton based his theory on accurate telescopic observations, whereas Kepler used observations made by eye.
D) Newton lived in a freer political climate, whereas Kepler risked house arrest if his theory opposed the Bible or Aristotle.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Newton's approach to developing his theory of planetary motion was fundamentally different from Kepler's in that Newton started from basic physical principles (laws of motion and universal gravitation) to explain the motion of planets. Kepler, on the other hand, derived his laws from the careful analysis of observational data, particularly that provided by Tycho Brahe, without initially relying on a physical framework to explain why the planets moved as they did.

What Was the MOST Important Difference Between the Development of Isaac