It was a tranquil day in rural Lincolnshire, England, in the year 1666. Sir Isaac Newton was staying at Woolsthorpe Manor, contemplating the mysteries of the physical world. I observed him sitting beneath an apple tree, deep in thought, when an apple suddenly fell to the ground near him. The falling apple seemed to ignite a spark in Newton's mind. He began to ponder why the apple came to earth instead of rising skyward or following a tangential path. This seemingly ordinary occurrence became a pivotal moment in understanding the concept of gravity. Building upon the initial observation, Newton went on to create the theory of universal gravitation, an essential foundation of modern physics. This fascinating event goes to show that sometimes, the grandest of ideas can be inspired by the simplest of observations in the natural world.
You are a witness during Newton's apple incident. Describe the scene and what precedes Sir Isaac Newton's breakthrough in understanding gravity.