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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Science
Alex Bellos

Did you solve it? Isaac Newton’s tower drop puzzle

Isaac Newton Earth
European Figure Skating Championships 2026- men free skatingDaniel Grassl of Italy spins quickly during the free skating of the European Figure Skating Championships men's competition where he finished 13th at the Utilita Arena on January 17th 2026 in Sheffield, England (Photo by Tom Jenkins)

Earlier today I set you a puzzle that Isaac Newton posed in 1679 in a latter to Robert Hooke. I mentioned that the answer is counter-intuitive, and also gave you the hint that it might have something to do with figure skating. Here’s the problem again, with its solution.

The tower drop

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