Aristotle explained why objects fall back to Earth based on his concept of "natural motion" tied to the nature of the four classical elements: earth, water, air, and fire. He believed that each element had a natural place in the universe, and objects composed primarily of earth or water naturally moved downward toward their natural place, which is the center of the Earth. This natural tendency caused objects to fall back to Earth
. He also posited that heavier objects fall faster than lighter ones, reasoning that the speed of fall is proportional to the object's weight and inversely proportional to the density of the medium through which it moves (such as air or water). For example, a lead ball would fall faster than an acorn because it is heavier. Aristotle's observations were based on everyday experience, such as seeing heavier objects fall more quickly in air, though this did not account for air resistance properly
. In summary, Aristotle's explanation combined the idea of natural motion driven by the nature of the elements with the belief that heavier objects fall faster due to their weight, and that the medium's density also affects the rate of falling
. This view prevailed until the Renaissance, when Galileo and later Newton developed more accurate theories of gravity and motion.
