102. We find the Moon moves round the Earth in an Orbit nearly circular. The Moon therefore must be acted on by two powers or forces; one which would cause her to move in a right line, another bending her motion from that line into a curve. This attractive power must be seated in the Earth; for there is no other body within the Moon’s Orbit to draw her. The attractive power of the Earth therefore extends to the Moon; and, in combination with her projectile force, causes her to move round the Earth in the same manner as the circulating body above supposed. [Sidenote: The Sun and Planets attract each other.] 103. The Moons of Jupiter and Saturn are observed to move round their primary Planets: therefore there is such a power as gravity in these Planets. All the Planets move round the Sun, and respect it for their centre of motion: therefore the Sun must be endowed with attracting force, as well as the Earth and Planets. The like may be proved of the Comets. So that all the bodies or matter in the Solar System are possessed of this power; and perhaps so is all matter whatsoever. 104. As the Sun attracts the Planets with their Satellites, and the Earth the Moon, so the Planets and Satellites re-attract the Sun, and the Moon the Earth: action and re-action being always equal. This is also confirmed by observation; for the Moon raises tides in the ocean, the Satellites and Planets disturb one another’s motions. 105. Every particle of matter being possessed of an attracting power, the effect of the whole must be in proportion to the number of attracting particles: that is, to the quantity of matter in the body. This is demonstrated from experiments on pendulums: for, if they are of equal lengths, whatever their weights be, they always vibrate in equal times. Now, if one be double the weight of another, the force of gravity or attraction must be double to make it oscillate with the same celerity: if one is thrice the weight or quantity of matter of another, it requires thrice the force of gravity to make it move with the same celerity. Hence it is certain, that the power of gravity is always proportional to the quantity of matter in bodies, whatever their bulks or figures are. 106. Gravity also, like all other virtues or emanations issuing from a centre, decreases as the square of the distance increases: that is, a body at twice the distance attracts another with only a fourth part of the force; at four times the distance, with a sixteenth part of the force. This too is confirmed from observation, by comparing the distance which the Moon falls in a minute from a right line touching her Orbit, with the space which bodies near the Earth fall in the same time: and also by comparing the forces which retain Jupiter’s Moons in their Orbits. This will be more fully explained in the seventh Chapter. [Sidenote: Gravitation and projection exemplified.]