Newton's depiction of the color wheel in Opticks
Newton's law of cooling holds that the rate at which an object will change temperature is directly proportional to the temperature difference between it \((T_{obj})\) and its environment \((T_{env}):\)
\[\frac{dT_{obj}}{dt} = k (T_{env} - T_{obj}).\]
If the environment remains at constant temperature, this implies that \(T_{obj}\) will asymptotically approach \(T_{env}:\)
\[T_{obj} = T_{env} + \big(T_{obj}(0) - T_{env}\big) e^{-kt},\]
which can be shown using differential equations .
A thermometer reading \(80^\circ F\) is taken outside. Five minutes later the thermometer reads \(60^\circ F\). After another 5 minutes it reads \(50^\circ F\).
What is the temperature outside \((\)in \(^\circ F)?\)
Assume that this process follows Newton's law of cooling.
In addition to his lasting scientific discoveries, Newton also investigated alchemy, the study of turning one element into another. While the techniques that Newton investigated led nowhere, alchemy was in a sense rediscovered in the form of nuclear physics. It is now strictly possible to turn lead into gold using a particle accelerator. However, at an estimated quadrillion dollars per ounce, it would be a poor financial choice [5] .
Newton was devoutly religious and would frequently study the Bible, attempting to make predictions based on its contents. He once wrote that the world would end no sooner than the year 2060 based on the Book of John [6] .
[1] Westfall, Richard. Never at Rest: A Biography of Isaac Newton. p. 143. 1983.
[2] Newton's Generalization of the Binomial Theorem . Retrieved from http://www.wwu.edu/teachingmathhistory/docs/psfile/newton1-student.pdf on February 22, 2016.
[3] Connor, Steve. The Core of Truth Behind Sir Newton's Apple. The Independent. January 17, 2010. Retrieved from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/the-core-of-truth-behind-sir-isaac-newtons-apple-1870915.html on February 22, 2016.
[4] Leibniz's Philosophy of Physics. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Published December 17. 2007. Retrieved from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/leibniz-physics/ on February 22, 2016.
[5] Matson, John. Fact Or Fiction?: Lead Can Be Turned Into Gold. Scientific American. January 31, 2014. Retrieved from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fact-or-fiction-lead-can-be-turned-into-gold/ on February 22, 2016.
[6] Newton, Sir Isaac. Sir Isaac Newton's Daniel and the Apocalypse. 1733. Retrieved from http://publicdomainreview.org/collections/sir-isaac-newtons-daniel-and-the-apocalypse-1733/ on February 22, 2016.
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Sir Isaac Newton (Jan. 4, 1643–March 31, 1727) was a superstar of physics, math, and astronomy even in his own time. He occupied the chair of Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge in England, the same role later filled, centuries later, by Stephen Hawking . Newton conceived of several laws of motion , influential mathematical principals which, to this day, scientists use to explain how the universe works.
Newton was born in 1642 in a manor house in Lincolnshire, England. His father had died two months before his birth. When Newton was 3 his mother remarried and he remained with his grandmother. He was not interested in the family farm, so he was sent to Cambridge University to study.
Newton was born just a short time after the death of Galileo , one of the greatest scientists of all time. Galileo had proved that the planets revolve around the sun, not the earth as people thought at the time. Newton was very interested in the discoveries of Galileo and others. Newton thought the universe worked like a machine and that a few simple laws governed it. Like Galileo, he realized that mathematics was the way to explain and prove those laws.
Newton formulated laws of motion and gravitation. These laws are math formulas that explain how objects move when a force acts on them. Newton published his most famous book, "Principia," in 1687 while he was a mathematics professor at Trinity College in Cambridge. In "Principia," Newton explained three basic laws that govern the way objects move. He also described his theory of gravity, the force that causes things to fall down. Newton then used his laws to show that the planets revolve around the suns in orbits that are oval, not round.
The three laws are often called Newton’s Laws. The first law states that an object that is not being pushed or pulled by some force will stay still or will keep moving in a straight line at a steady speed. For example, if someone is riding a bike and jumps off before the bike is stopped, what happens? The bike continues on until it falls over. The tendency of an object to remain still or keep moving in a straight line at a steady speed is called inertia.
The second law explains how a force acts on an object. An object accelerates in the direction the force is moving it. If someone gets on a bike and pushes the pedals forward, the bike will begin to move. If someone gives the bike a push from behind, the bike will speed up. If the rider pushes back on the pedals, the bike will slow down. If the rider turns the handlebars, the bike will change direction.
The third law states that if an object is pushed or pulled, it will push or pull equally in the opposite direction. If someone lifts a heavy box, they use force to push it up. The box is heavy because it is producing an equal force downward on the lifter’s arms. The weight is transferred through the lifter’s legs to the floor. The floor also presses upward with an equal force. If the floor pushed back with less force, the person lifting the box would fall through the floor. If it pushed back with more force, the lifter would fly up in the air.
When most people think of Newton, they think of him sitting under an apple tree observing an apple fall to the ground. When he saw the apple fall, Newton began to think about a specific kind of motion called gravity. Newton understood that gravity was a force of attraction between two objects. He also understood that an object with more matter or mass exerted the greater force or pulled smaller objects toward it. That meant that the large mass of the Earth pulled objects toward it. That is why the apple fell down instead of up and why people don’t float in the air.
He also thought that maybe gravity was not just limited to the Earth and the objects on the earth. What if gravity extended to the Moon and beyond? Newton calculated the force needed to keep the Moon moving around the earth. Then he compared it with the force that made the apple fall downward. After allowing for the fact that the Moon is much farther from the Earth and has a much greater mass, he discovered that the forces were the same and that the Moon is also held in orbit around Earth by the pull of earth’s gravity.
Newton moved to London in 1696 to accept the position of warden of the Royal Mint. For many years afterward, he argued with Robert Hooke over who had actually discovered the connection between elliptical orbits and the inverse square law, a dispute that ended only with Hooke's death in 1703.
In 1705, Queen Anne bestowed a knighthood upon Newton, and thereafter he was known as Sir Isaac Newton. He continued his work, particularly in mathematics. This led to another dispute in 1709, this time with German mathematician Gottfried Leibniz. They both quarreled over which of them had invented calculus.
One reason for Newton's disputes with other scientists was his overwhelming fear of criticism, which led him to write, but then postpone publication of, his brilliant articles until after another scientist created similar work. Besides his earlier writings, "De Analysi" (which didn't see publication until 1711) and "Principia" (published in 1687), Newton's publications included "Optics" (published in 1704), "The Universal Arithmetic" (published in 1707), the "Lectiones Opticae" (published in 1729), the "Method of Fluxions" (published in 1736), and the "Geometrica Analytica" (printed in 1779).
On March 20, 1727, Newton died near London. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, the first scientist to receive this honor.
Newton’s calculations changed the way people understood the universe. Prior to Newton, no one had been able to explain why the planets stayed in their orbits. What held them in place? People had thought that the planets were held in place by an invisible shield. Newton proved that they were held in place by the sun’s gravity and that the force of gravity was affected by distance and mass. While he was not the first person to understand that the orbit of a planet was elongated like an oval, he was the first to explain how it worked.
A short history of Sir Isaac Newton, the mathematician and physicist that helped invent and explain some of the most fundamental laws of science.
Bibliography.
Sir Isaac Newton contributed significantly to the field of science over his lifetime. He invented calculus and provided a clear understanding of optics. But his most significant work had to do with forces, and specifically with the development of a universal law of gravitation and his laws of motion .
Isaac Newton was born on Christmas Day to a poor farming family in Woolsthorpe, England, in 1642. At the time of Newton's birth England used the Julian calendar, however, when England adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1752, his birthday became 4th January 1643.
Isaac Newton arrived in the world only a few months after his father, Isaac Newton Sr, had died. "The boy expected to live managing the farm in the place of the father he had never known," wrote James Gleick in "Isaac Newton" ( Vintage, 2004 ).
However, when it became clear a farming life was not for him, Newton attended Trinity College in Cambridge, England. "He did not know what he wanted to be or do, but it was not tend sheep or follow the plough and the dung cart," wrote Gleick. While there, he took an interest in mathematics, optics, physics, and astronomy .
After his graduation, he began to teach at the college and was appointed as the second Lucasian Chair there. Today, the chair is considered the most renowned academic chair in the world, held by the likes of Charles Babbage and Stephen Hawking .
In 1689, Newton was elected as a member of parliament for the university. In 1703, he was elected as president of the Royal Society, a fellowship of scientists that still exists today. He was knighted by Queen Anne in 1705. He never married.
Newton's most famous work came with the publication of his " Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica " ("Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy"), generally called Principia. In it, he determined the three laws of motion for the universe .
Newton's first law describes how objects move at the same velocity unless an outside force acts upon them. (A force is something that causes or changes motion.) Thus, an object sitting on a table remains on the table until a force — the push of a hand, or gravity — acts upon it. Similarly, an object travels at the same speed unless it interacts with another force, such as friction.
His second law of motion provided a calculation for how forces interact. The law states that a force is equal to the change in the momentum (mass multiplied by velocity) per change in time. Therefore, when more force is applied to an object, its acceleration also increases, but when the mass of the object increases and the force remains constant, its acceleration decreases.
Newton's third law states that for every action in nature, there is an equal and opposite reaction. If one body applies a force on a second, then the second body exerts a force of the same strength on the first, in the opposite direction.
From all of this, Newton calculated the universal law of gravitation. He found that as two bodies move farther away from one another, the gravitational attraction between them decreases by the inverse of the square of the distance. Thus, if the objects are twice as far apart, the gravitational force is only a fourth as strong; if they are three times as far apart, it is only a ninth of its previous power.
These laws helped scientists understand more about the motions of planets in the solar system , and of the moon around Earth.
Related: What makes Newton's laws work? Here's the simple trick.
A popular myth tells of an apple falling from a tree in Newton's garden, which brought Newton to an understanding of forces, particularly gravity. Whether the incident actually happened is unknown, but historians doubt the event — if it occurred — was the driving force in Newton's thought process.
The myth tells of Isaac Newton having returned to his family farm in Woolsthorpe, escaping Cambridge for a short time as it was dealing with a plague outbreak. As he sat in the farm's orchard, an apple fell from one of the trees (in some tellings it hit Newton on the head). Watching this happen, Newton began to consider the forces that meant the apple always fell directly towards the ground, beginning his examination of gravity.
One of the reasons that this story gained a foothold in popular understanding is that it is an anecdote Newton himself seems to have shared. "Toward the end of his life, Newton told the apple anecdote around four times, although it only became well known in the nineteenth century," wrote Patricia Fara, a historian of science at the University of Cambridge, in a chapter of " Newton's Apple and Other Myths about Science " (Harvard University Press, 2020).
However, it would be at least 20 years before Newton published his theories on gravity. It seems more likely that Newton used the story as a means of connecting the concept of gravity's impact on objects on Earth with its impact on objects in space for his contemporary audience.
The apple tree in question — known as the "Flower of Kent" — still blooms in the orchard of Woolsthorpe Manor, and is now a popular tourist attraction.
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While a student, Newton was forced to take a two-year hiatus when plague closed Trinity College. At home, he continued to work with optics, using a prism to separate white light, and became the first person to argue that white light was a mixture of many types of rays, rather than a single entity. He continued working with light and color over the next few years and published his findings in " Opticks " in 1704.
Disturbed by the problems with telescopes at the time, he invented the reflecting telescope, grinding the mirror and building the tube himself. Relying on a mirror rather than lenses, the telescope presented a sharper image than refracting telescopes at the time. Modern techniques have reduced the problems caused by lenses, but large telescopes such as the James Webb Space Telescope use mirrors.
As a student, Newton studied the most advanced mathematical texts of his time. While on hiatus, he continued to study mathematics, laying the ground for differential and integral calculus. He united many techniques that had previously been considered separately, such as finding areas, tangents, and the lengths of curves. He wrote De Methodis Serierum et Fluxionum in 1671 but was unable to find a publisher.
Newton also established a cohesive scientific method, to be used across disciplines. Previous explorations of science varied depending on the field. Newton established a set format for experimentation still used today.
However, not all of Newton's ideas were quite as revolutionary. In P rincipia, Newton describes how rarefied vapor from comet tails is pulled into Earth's gravitational grasp and enables the movements of the planet's fluids along with the "most subtle and useful part of our air, and so much required to sustain the life of all things with us."
"Amicus Plato amicus Aristoteles magis amica verita."
(Plato is my friend, Aristotle is my friend, but my greatest friend is truth.)
—Written in the margin of a notebook while a student at Cambridge. In Richard S. Westfall, Never at Rest (1980), 89.
"Genius is patience."
—The Homiletic Review, Vol. 83-84 (1922), Vol. 84, 290.
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."
—Letter to Robert Hooke (5 Feb 1675-6).In H. W. Turnbull (ed.), The Correspondence of Isaac Newton, 1, 1661-1675 (1959), Vol. 1, 416.
"I see I have made my self a slave to Philosophy."
—Letter to Henry Oldenburg (18 Nov 1676). In H. W. Turnbull (ed.), The Correspondence of Isaac Newton, 1676-1687 (1960), Vol. 2, 182.
"I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me."
—First reported in Joseph Spence, Anecdotes, Observations and Characters, of Books and Men (1820), Vol. 1 of 1966 edn, sect. 1259, p. 462
"To any action there is always an opposite and equal reaction; in other words, the actions of two bodies upon each other are always equal and always opposite in direction."
— The Principia: Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy (1687)
"Truth is ever to be found in simplicity, and not in the multiplicity and confusion of things."
—'Fragments from a Treatise on Revelation". In Frank E. Manuel, The Religion of Isaac Newton (1974), 120.
Newton died in 1727 during his sleep at the age of 84. Although the cause of death is unknown, a 1979 study published by Newton's own Royal Society suggests mercury poisoning may have contributed to the decline of his physical and mental health. During the exhumation of his body, large amounts of mercury were found in the scientist's system, likely due to his work with alchemy. Newton conducted several experiments to convert base metals, such as mercury and copper into precious metals, such as gold and silver.
"In 1693 Newton suffered from insomnia and poor digestion; and he also wrote irrational letters to friends. Although most scholars have attributed Newton's breakdown to psychological factors, it is possible that mercury poisoning may have been the principal cause," wrote L. W. Johnson and M. L. Wolbarsht " Mercury Poisoning: A probable cause of Isaac Newton's physical and mental ills: Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London Vol. 34. No. 1. " .
After his death, his body was moved to a more prominent place in Westminster Abbey. His white and grey marble monument stands in the nave of the Abbey's choir screen and boasts sculptures of Newton lounging surrounded by children using the many instruments, such as telescopes, associated with Newton's work. The inscription on the monument — originally written in Latin — reads:
" Here is buried Isaac Newton, Knight, who by a strength of mind almost divine, and mathematical principles peculiarly his own, explored the course and figures of the planets, the paths of comets, the tides of the sea, the dissimilarities in rays of light, and, what no other scholar has previously imagined, the properties of the colours thus produced. Diligent, sagacious and faithful, in his expositions of nature, antiquity and the holy Scriptures, he vindicated by his philosophy the majesty of God mighty and good, and expressed the simplicity of the Gospel in his manners. Mortals rejoice that there has existed such and so great an ornament of the human race! He was born on 25th December 1642, and died on 20th March 1726. " The date of his death on his monument is given in the Julian calendar.
If you want to learn more about the impact of this celebrated scientist, then you should read about how Isaac Newton Changed the World . If you're wondering whether Newton's second law of motion works in space then an Astronaut has tested the theory out.
"Isaac Newton" by James Gleick (Vintage, 2004 )
" Mercury Poisoning: A probable cause of Isaac Newton's physical and mental ills: Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London Vol. 34. No. 1. " by L. W. Johnson and M. L. Wolbarsht (July 1979)
" The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy " by Isaac Newton (Flame Tree Collections, 2020)
" Newton's Apple and Other Myths about Science " edited by Ronald L. Numbers and Kostas Kampourakis (Harvard University Press, 2020)
" Life After Gravity: Isaac Newton's London Career " by Patricia Fara (Oxford University Press, 2021)
"Isaac Newton" Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2007)
"Isaac Newton" University of St Andrews (2000)
"Sir Isaac Newton" Westminster Abbey (2023)
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Sir Isaac Newton was born on Christmas Day, in 1643, to a relatively poor farming family. His father died three months before he was born. His mother later remarried, but her second husband did not get on with Isaac; leading to friction between Isaac and his parents. The young Isaac attended school at King’s School, Grantham in Lincolnshire (where his signature is still inscribed on the walls.) Isaac was one of the top students, but before completing his studies his mother withdrew him from school, so Isaac could work as a farmer. It was only through the intervention of the headmaster that Isaac was able to return to finish his studies; he passed his final exams with very good results and was able to go to Trinity College, Cambridge.
Sir Isaac Newton, has been referred to as one of the greatest geniuses of history. His mathematical and scientific achievements give credence to such a view. His many accomplishments in the field of science include:
Developing a theory of calculus . Unfortunately, at the same time as Newton, calculus was being developed by Leibniz. When Leibniz published his results, there was a bitter feud between the two men, with Newton claiming plagiarism. This bitter feud lasted until Leibniz death in 1713, it also extended between British mathematicians and the continent.
The most popular anecdote about Sir Isaac Newton is the story of how the theory of gravitation came to him, after being hit on the head with a falling apple. In reality, Newton and his friends may have exaggerated this story. Nevertheless, it is quite likely that seeing apples fall from trees may have influenced his theories of gravity.
As well as being a scientist, Newton actually spent more time investigating religious issues. He read the Bible daily, believing it to be the word of God. Nevertheless, he was not satisfied with the Christian interpretations of the Bible. For example, he rejected the philosophy of the Holy Trinity; his beliefs were closer to the Christian beliefs in Arianism (basically there was a difference between Jesus Christ and God)
Newton was fascinated with the early Church and also the last chapter of the Bible Revelations. He spent many hours poring over the Bible, trying to find the secret Bible Code. He was rumoured to be a Rosicrucian. The religious beliefs that Newton held could have caused serious embarrassment at the time. Because of this, he kept his views hidden, almost to the point of obsession. This desire for secrecy seemed to be part of his nature. It was only on his death that his papers were opened up. The bishop who first opened Newton’s box, actually found them too shocking for public release, therefore, they were kept closed for many more years.
Newton was also interested in alchemy. He experimented on many objects, using a lot of Mercury. Very high levels of mercury in his bloodstream may have contributed to his early death and irregularities in later life.
Newton was made a member of the Royal Society in 1703. He was also given the job of Master of Mint in 1717. He took this job seriously and unofficially was responsible for moving England from the silver standard to the gold standard.
Newton was an extraordinary polymath; the universe simply fascinated him. He sought to discover the hidden and outer mysteries of life. With his sharp intellect and powers of concentration, he was able to contribute to tremendous developments in many areas of science. He was a unique individual. John Maynard Keynes , a twentieth-century genius, said of Newton:
“I do not think that any one who has pored over the contents of that box which he packed up when he finally left Cambridge in 1696 and which, though partly dispersed, have come down to us, can see him like that. Newton was not the first of the age of reason. He was the last of the magicians, the last of the Babylonians and Sumerians, the last great mind which looked out on the visible and intellectual world with the same eyes as those who began to build our intellectual inheritance rather less than 10,000 years ago. Isaac Newton, a posthumous child born with no father on Christmas Day, 1642, was the last wonderchild to whom the Magi could do sincere and appropriate homage.” [1]
Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan . “Biography of Sir Isaac Newton”, Oxford, www.biographyonline.net , 18th May. 2009. Last updated 28 Feb 2018.
Further reading: Interesting facts about Isaac Newton
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Isaac Newton, the Royal Society, and the Birth of the Modern World at Amazon
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[1] Keynes on Newton the Man
Culture History
Isaac Newton (1643-1727) was a renowned English mathematician, physicist, and astronomer. He is best known for formulating the laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation. Newton’s contributions laid the foundation for classical mechanics and greatly influenced the scientific revolution.
Isaac Newton’s early life and education were marked by adversity, academic prowess, and the pursuit of knowledge. Born prematurely on December 25, 1642, in Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, Newton entered a world where his father had passed away before his birth. His mother, Hannah Ayscough Newton, remarried when he was three, leaving him to be raised by his maternal grandmother while she pursued her second marriage. This early familial dynamic played a significant role in shaping Newton’s formative years.
In his early childhood, Newton’s intellectual curiosity began to manifest. His aptitude for learning and mechanical tinkering became evident, hinting at the scientific genius that would later define his legacy. However, financial constraints nearly derailed his education. The death of his stepfather provided a pivotal turning point, allowing Newton’s mother to return to Woolsthorpe and recognize her son’s academic potential.
Newton attended the King’s School in Grantham, where his academic abilities flourished. He displayed an early interest in mechanics and technology, often experimenting with various devices and demonstrating an innate talent for solving mathematical problems. It became apparent that Newton was destined for intellectual pursuits beyond the ordinary.
In 1661, at the age of 18, Newton entered the University of Cambridge’s Trinity College, a decision that would profoundly shape his future. His enrollment was initially as a “subsizar,” a student who performed menial tasks to offset tuition costs. Despite the humble beginnings, Newton’s exceptional academic performance caught the attention of his professors, leading to financial assistance that allowed him to focus on his studies.
At Cambridge, Newton delved into the works of influential thinkers like René Descartes and Galileo Galilei . His rigorous engagement with mathematical and scientific ideas laid the groundwork for the profound contributions he would make to these fields. Newton’s thirst for knowledge and keen intellect set him apart, earning him the distinction of a scholar with unparalleled potential.
While at Cambridge, Newton’s attention gravitated toward mathematics. He immersed himself in the study of Euclidean geometry, algebra, and other mathematical disciplines. His early interest in mechanics also found expression through the study of natural philosophy. This period of intense intellectual exploration laid the foundation for his groundbreaking contributions to various scientific disciplines.
Newton’s academic journey at Cambridge unfolded during a tumultuous period in English history. The mid-17th century witnessed political upheavals, including the English Civil War and the execution of King Charles I. These events had a profound impact on the academic environment, with universities experiencing disruptions and shifts in leadership. Despite these challenges, Newton’s commitment to learning and inquiry remained unwavering.
In 1665, while the university temporarily closed due to the bubonic plague, Newton returned to Woolsthorpe. This period, often referred to as his “annus mirabilis” or “miracle year,” proved to be a watershed moment in his life. During this time of isolation, Newton made groundbreaking discoveries that would reshape the landscape of physics and mathematics.
One of Newton’s major achievements during this period was the development of calculus, a mathematical framework that he used to solve problems related to motion and change. Although contemporaneous with the German mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, the priority dispute over the invention of calculus persisted for years.
Newton also explored optics and conducted experiments with light and prisms, unraveling the mysteries of color. His work in optics culminated in the publication of “Opticks” in 1704, where he presented his theories on the nature of light and color, along with observations on refraction and reflection.
Newton’s return to Cambridge in 1667 marked the beginning of his rise within academic circles. He was appointed as a Fellow of Trinity College and later became Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, a prestigious position previously held by luminaries like Isaac Barrow. Newton’s lectures and writings during this time showcased his growing influence in the academic community.
Newton’s achievements in mathematics and physics culminated in the publication of the Principia in 1687. This seminal work laid out the laws of motion, the law of universal gravitation, and a comprehensive mathematical framework for understanding the physical world. The Principia cemented Newton’s status as a preeminent figure in science and left an indelible mark on the scientific revolution.
Despite his profound contributions to academia, Newton’s personal life was marked by eccentricities and occasional periods of social withdrawal. His personality, often described as complex, reflected a blend of intense focus on his work and moments of contentious interactions with contemporaries.
Isaac Newton’s early life and education form a narrative of resilience, intellectual curiosity, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge. From his humble beginnings in Woolsthorpe to his groundbreaking discoveries at Cambridge, Newton’s journey laid the groundwork for his enduring legacy as one of the greatest scientists in history. His contributions not only advanced the understanding of the physical world but also set a standard for scientific inquiry that continues to inspire generations of scholars.
Isaac Newton’s scientific achievements are a testament to his genius and profound impact on the foundations of physics, mathematics, and astronomy. His groundbreaking work, particularly detailed in “Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy” (Principia) and “Opticks,” laid the groundwork for classical mechanics, the laws of motion, the law of universal gravitation, and our understanding of optics.
Newton’s most enduring contribution is undoubtedly the formulation of the three laws of motion. Published in the Principia in 1687, these laws provide a comprehensive framework for understanding the motion of objects. The first law states that an object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will remain in motion unless acted upon by a net external force. The second law quantifies the relationship between an object’s mass, its acceleration, and the applied force. The third law asserts that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
These laws revolutionized physics, providing a unified description of motion that could explain phenomena ranging from falling apples to planetary orbits. Newton’s laws of motion became foundational principles, shaping the trajectory of classical mechanics and forming the basis for subsequent advancements in the field.
In addition to the laws of motion, Newton’s law of universal gravitation stands as one of the cornerstones of classical physics. Published in the Principia, this law describes the gravitational force between two objects as directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers. Newton’s law of universal gravitation provided a unified explanation for both terrestrial and celestial phenomena, offering a comprehensive understanding of the forces governing the motion of celestial bodies.
The impact of the law of universal gravitation extended beyond theoretical physics. It enabled accurate predictions of celestial events and orbits, laying the foundation for advancements in celestial mechanics. Newton’s law of gravitation became a fundamental tool for astronomers, allowing them to describe and predict the motions of planets and other celestial bodies with unprecedented accuracy.
Newton’s work in optics, as detailed in “Opticks,” further demonstrated his scientific prowess. In the early 1670s, he conducted experiments with light and prisms, revealing the phenomenon of dispersion where white light could be decomposed into a spectrum of colors. Newton’s experiments and observations laid the groundwork for the understanding of color and light, challenging prevailing theories and offering a new perspective on the nature of optics.
In “Opticks,” published in 1704, Newton presented his theories on the nature of light and color. He proposed that white light is composed of a spectrum of colors and explored the properties of light, including reflection and refraction. Newton’s work in optics significantly advanced our understanding of the behavior of light, influencing subsequent developments in the field and contributing to the wave-particle duality theory that emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Newton’s contributions to mathematics are equally significant, particularly his development of calculus. Although there was a priority dispute with Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz over the invention of calculus, Newton’s work in this field became an essential tool in physics and mathematics. Calculus provided a powerful mathematical framework for describing and analyzing motion, change, and rates of change—fundamental concepts in the study of the physical world.
Newton’s impact on mathematics extended to his development of the binomial theorem and his contributions to the study of infinite series. His work in these areas not only facilitated mathematical calculations but also laid the groundwork for future developments in mathematical analysis.
Beyond his specific scientific contributions, Newton played a crucial role in advancing the scientific method. His emphasis on systematic experimentation, empirical observation, and mathematical analysis became a model for scientific inquiry. The Principia, in particular, exemplified Newton’s commitment to rigorously testing hypotheses and deriving conclusions based on evidence—a methodology that continues to guide scientific research to this day.
In addition to his scientific pursuits, Newton held various public positions, showcasing the practical applications of his scientific insights. He served as a Member of Parliament and later as the Master of the Mint, where he was instrumental in reorganizing the British currency. Newton’s engagement with practical matters demonstrated the real-world impact of scientific thinking and problem-solving.
Despite his towering achievements, Newton’s life was not without challenges and complexities. His personality was marked by periods of intense focus on his work, as well as moments of social withdrawal and conflict with contemporaries. Newton’s private life and interpersonal relationships reflected the intricate interplay of his intellectual pursuits and personal struggles.
Isaac Newton’s scientific achievements form a monumental legacy that continues to shape our understanding of the physical world. His laws of motion, law of universal gravitation, contributions to optics, and development of calculus have left an indelible mark on physics and mathematics. Newton’s work not only advanced scientific knowledge but also set a standard for the scientific method, inspiring generations of researchers to explore the mysteries of the universe with curiosity and rigor.
“Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica,” commonly known as the Principia Mathematica, is Isaac Newton’s magnum opus, published in 1687. This groundbreaking work laid the foundation for classical mechanics, revolutionizing the scientific understanding of motion, gravity, and celestial mechanics. The Principia is regarded as one of the most influential scientific books ever written and represents a pinnacle in the history of physics .
The Principia consists of three books, each addressing specific aspects of Newton’s comprehensive system of natural philosophy. The first book, titled “Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy,” introduces the three laws of motion—fundamental principles that govern the motion of objects. These laws provided a unified framework for understanding both terrestrial and celestial phenomena, establishing a universal language for describing the dynamics of the physical world.
Newton’s first law states that an object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will remain in motion at a constant velocity unless acted upon by a net external force. The second law relates the force acting on an object to its mass and acceleration, expressing the fundamental relationship between force and motion. The third law asserts that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction—a principle that applies to the interaction of all objects in the universe.
These laws formed the cornerstone of classical mechanics, offering a coherent and systematic explanation for a wide range of physical phenomena. Newton’s mathematical formulation of these laws allowed for precise predictions and calculations, transforming the study of motion into a quantitative science.
The second book of the Principia delves into fluid motion and the resistance of fluids. Newton explored the behavior of fluids, providing insights into the motion of liquids and gases under various conditions. While the second book is less well-known than the first, it demonstrated Newton’s versatility in addressing a diverse array of physical phenomena.
The third book, titled “The System of the World,” is dedicated to celestial mechanics and the law of universal gravitation. In this section, Newton presents his revolutionary theory of gravity, proposing that every object in the universe attracts every other object with a force proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers. The law of universal gravitation provided a unified explanation for the motion of celestial bodies, reconciling the orbits of planets with a single, underlying principle.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the Principia is Newton’s use of mathematical tools, particularly his development of calculus. While the calculus was independently developed by Newton and the German mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, the Principia served as a platform for showcasing the power and utility of this mathematical framework. Newton’s use of calculus enabled him to express his laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation in precise mathematical terms, facilitating the quantitative analysis of physical phenomena.
The impact of the Principia extended far beyond the scientific community. Its publication marked a turning point in the history of science, providing a methodical and systematic approach to understanding the natural world. The Principia laid the groundwork for the scientific revolution, emphasizing the importance of empirical observation, experimentation, and mathematical analysis in the pursuit of knowledge.
Newton’s work was met with both admiration and criticism. The clarity and elegance of his explanations, coupled with the predictive power of his laws, garnered widespread acclaim. However, the intricacies of the mathematical reasoning and the novel nature of the ideas presented in the Principia also led to challenges in comprehension and acceptance.
The Principia Mathematica represents a synthesis of Newton’s diverse intellectual pursuits, incorporating his contributions to mathematics, physics, and astronomy into a cohesive and revolutionary system. The impact of the Principia reverberates through the centuries, influencing subsequent generations of scientists and serving as a foundational text for the study of classical mechanics.
The conflict between Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz over the invention of calculus is one of the most famous disputes in the history of mathematics. This controversy, often referred to as the “calculus priority dispute,” unfolded in the late 17th century and has left a lasting impact on the perception of both mathematicians’ contributions to this fundamental branch of mathematics.
The origins of the conflict can be traced back to the independent development of calculus by Newton and Leibniz during the same period. Calculus, a mathematical framework for dealing with rates of change and the accumulation of quantities, was a revolutionary development with profound implications for various scientific fields, including physics and engineering.
Isaac Newton began working on the mathematical methods that would later be recognized as calculus in the mid-1660s. His efforts were closely tied to his investigations into physics and celestial mechanics. Newton’s approach involved the method of fluxions, a conceptual framework that dealt with quantities in motion and their rates of change. He used this method to develop a systematic approach to calculus, allowing him to solve problems related to motion, acceleration, and the computation of areas under curves.
Meanwhile, in the late 1670s, the German mathematician and philosopher Leibniz was independently developing his own notation and methods for calculus. Leibniz introduced the integral sign (∫) and the differential notation (dy/dx), which are still used today. Leibniz’s notation and approach were more accessible and user-friendly than Newton’s fluxions, making calculus more widely adoptable.
The controversy ignited in the early 18th century when both Newton and Leibniz published their respective works on calculus. Newton’s major contributions were outlined in his “Method of Fluxions” in the 1670s, but he did not publish this work until much later. On the other hand, Leibniz published his first paper on calculus, “Nova Methodus pro Maximis et Minimis,” in 1684.
The timing of the publications and the differing notations led to a heated dispute over priority. Newton and his followers, including some prominent mathematicians of the time, argued that Newton had developed the calculus first, using the method of fluxions. Newton was vocal about his claim, asserting that Leibniz had taken the ideas from him without proper acknowledgment.
Leibniz, on the other hand, defended his work vigorously. He argued that he had independently developed calculus and that his notation was distinctly different from Newton’s method of fluxions. Leibniz contended that his approach was more intuitive and user-friendly, emphasizing the clarity and simplicity of his notation.
The dispute escalated as supporters on both sides engaged in a war of words through letters, publications, and personal interactions. The scientific community became polarized, with mathematicians taking sides in what became a bitter and public controversy. Notable figures, including the French mathematician Pierre-Simon Laplace, sided with either Newton or Leibniz, further fueling the conflict.
In 1711, the Royal Society formed a committee to investigate the priority dispute. The committee, largely composed of Newton’s supporters, concluded that Newton was the first inventor of calculus. This verdict, however, did not quell the controversy, as Leibniz and his followers rejected the committee’s findings.
The calculus priority dispute had broader implications beyond the personal rivalry between Newton and Leibniz. It divided the mathematical community and hindered collaboration and communication between mathematicians for many years. The dispute also contributed to a delay in the widespread acceptance and dissemination of calculus.
The controversy persisted even after Newton’s death in 1727 and Leibniz’s death in 1716. It wasn’t until the 19th century that a more nuanced and objective assessment of the contributions of Newton and Leibniz to calculus emerged. Mathematicians such as Augustin-Louis Cauchy and Karl Weierstrass recognized the independent significance of both approaches and emphasized the collective nature of mathematical progress.
Ultimately, the dispute over calculus priority was a complex and multifaceted issue. While Newton and Leibniz independently developed calculus, their different notations and approaches reflected distinct mathematical insights. Both mathematicians made profound contributions to the field, and today calculus is often taught using a combination of their notations and methods, acknowledging the richness of both traditions.
In the annals of mathematical history, the calculus priority dispute serves as a cautionary tale about the challenges of determining priority and the importance of fostering a collaborative and open scientific community. It also highlights the human aspect of scientific discovery, where rivalries and personal conflicts can sometimes overshadow the collective progress of knowledge. Despite the contentious history, the legacy of Newton and Leibniz endures in the foundational principles of calculus that continue to shape the landscape of mathematics and science.
Isaac Newton’s personal life was marked by a complex interplay of intellectual brilliance, social isolation, and occasional bouts of eccentric behavior. Born prematurely on December 25, 1642 (Julian calendar), in Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, Newton faced early challenges that shaped his character and influenced the trajectory of his life.
Newton’s father died before his birth, and his mother remarried when he was three. Raised by his maternal grandmother while his mother pursued her second marriage, Newton’s early years were marked by a sense of familial detachment. This period of relative solitude may have contributed to the development of his introspective and independent nature.
In his formative years, Newton attended the King’s School in Grantham, where he exhibited exceptional academic prowess. His intellectual curiosity and a penchant for mechanical tinkering hinted at the scientific genius that would later define his legacy. Despite these qualities, financial constraints initially threatened to disrupt his education until the death of his stepfather allowed his mother to return to Woolsthorpe, recognizing her son’s academic potential.
Newton’s enrollment at the University of Cambridge’s Trinity College in 1661 marked the beginning of a new chapter. At Cambridge, he immersed himself in the study of mathematics and natural philosophy, laying the groundwork for the groundbreaking discoveries that would shape his reputation as one of history’s greatest scientists.
While Newton’s professional life flourished, his personal life was characterized by a complex and sometimes tumultuous nature. Known for his intense focus on his work, Newton exhibited periods of social withdrawal and a tendency to immerse himself in solitary pursuits. His dedication to his studies and scientific inquiries often took precedence over social interactions.
Newton’s personality was marked by a combination of brilliance and reticence. He had a reputation for being reserved and introspective, with a meticulous and methodical approach to his work. Newton’s notebooks reveal the depth of his intellectual pursuits, showcasing his rigorous thought processes and commitment to empirical observation.
Despite his academic achievements, Newton faced personal challenges and conflicts. His tenure as Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge brought both recognition and demands on his time. Newton’s role in university governance and his involvement in academic disputes occasionally placed him at odds with colleagues, contributing to a complex social dynamic.
In the late 1670s and early 1680s, Newton experienced a period of intense intellectual productivity, known as his “annus mirabilis” or “miracle year.” During this time, he made groundbreaking contributions to mathematics, optics, and physics. Newton’s development of calculus, his work on the nature of light and color, and the formulation of the laws of motion occurred in rapid succession, demonstrating the breadth of his intellectual capabilities.
The publication of the Principia Mathematica in 1687 solidified Newton’s reputation as a preeminent scientist. However, the intense focus on his work and his tendency to withdraw from social engagements sometimes fueled misconceptions about his character. Newton’s dedication to his studies and scientific pursuits often led him to prioritize intellectual endeavors over personal relationships.
In 1696, Newton’s personal life took a different turn when he accepted the position of Warden of the Royal Mint. This marked a transition from his academic career to a role with significant administrative responsibilities. Newton’s tenure at the Mint was characterized by his efforts to combat counterfeiting and reorganize the British currency. His pragmatic approach to these matters demonstrated a practical side of Newton that extended beyond theoretical pursuits.
Newton’s later years included further public service, as he became Master of the Mint in 1699. Despite his involvement in administrative roles, he continued to engage with scientific matters, publishing works on mathematics and pursuing his interests in alchemy and theology.
In his private life, Newton never married and led a largely solitary existence. His personal relationships were limited, and he maintained a degree of distance from others. Newton’s focus on his work, combined with his reserved nature, contributed to the perception of him as a somewhat enigmatic figure.
Newton’s death on March 20, 1727, marked the end of a life characterized by intellectual brilliance and a complex personal journey. His legacy endures in the principles of physics and mathematics that bear his name, but the nuances of his personal life add a layer of humanity to the narrative of a scientific giant. Newton’s story serves as a reminder of the intricate relationship between the personal and professional aspects of a brilliant mind, leaving a lasting imprint on the history of science and the understanding of the universe.
Isaac Newton’s legacy is indelibly imprinted on the fabric of human knowledge, spanning mathematics, physics, astronomy, and the scientific method. His groundbreaking contributions to these fields have left an enduring impact, shaping the way we understand the physical world and influencing subsequent generations of scientists and thinkers.
Newton’s most celebrated work, “Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica” (Principia), published in 1687, stands as a monumental achievement in the history of science. In Principia, Newton formulated the three laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation, providing a comprehensive and mathematically rigorous framework for understanding the dynamics of the physical universe. These laws became the cornerstone of classical mechanics, revolutionizing physics and serving as the foundation for subsequent developments in the field.
The laws of motion articulated in the Principia not only explained the motion of objects on Earth but also provided a universal language to describe the orbits of celestial bodies. Newton’s law of universal gravitation demonstrated that the force governing the fall of an apple near his childhood home was the same force dictating the movements of planets in the heavens. This unification of terrestrial and celestial mechanics represented a monumental shift in scientific thinking, fostering a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of physical phenomena.
Newton’s legacy in mathematics is equally profound. His independent development of calculus, although entangled in a contentious priority dispute with Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, laid the groundwork for a powerful mathematical tool that transcended disciplinary boundaries. Calculus became an indispensable language for describing change, motion, and rates of change, providing a versatile framework for scientific inquiry.
The mathematical notation introduced by Newton and Leibniz remains in use today, a testament to the enduring legacy of their contributions. The integral sign (∫) and the differential notation (dy/dx), both associated with Leibniz, have become fundamental symbols in mathematical discourse. Newton’s notation for fluxions and the derivative (dy/dt) also persists, reflecting the dual legacy of these mathematical pioneers.
Beyond his specific mathematical and scientific contributions, Newton’s legacy is embedded in the scientific method. His emphasis on empirical observation, systematic experimentation, and the use of mathematics as a tool for understanding the natural world set a standard for scientific inquiry that reverberates through the centuries. The Principia exemplifies this methodical approach, with Newton meticulously deriving conclusions from carefully conducted experiments and observations.
Newton’s commitment to the scientific method had a profound influence on the Enlightenment, a period characterized by a shift towards reason, empirical evidence, and a questioning of traditional authority. His work inspired subsequent generations of scientists to approach problems with a rigorous and systematic mindset, laying the groundwork for the scientific revolution.
The impact of Newton’s ideas extended beyond the scientific community, influencing philosophy, literature, and culture. Enlightenment thinkers such as Voltaire and John Locke embraced Newtonian principles, celebrating the power of reason and the potential for human understanding to unlock the mysteries of the universe. The concept of a clockwork universe governed by precise laws became a metaphor for a rational and orderly cosmos.
Newton’s legacy is also evident in the development of technology and engineering. His laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation provided the theoretical foundation for advancements in mechanics and the design of machinery. The principles outlined in the Principia became instrumental in the Industrial Revolution, fueling innovations in transportation, manufacturing, and engineering.
In addition to his scientific and mathematical pursuits, Newton played a significant role in public life. His tenure at the Royal Mint, where he served as Warden and later as Master, demonstrated his practical skills and contributed to the stabilization of the British currency. Newton’s influence extended to matters of public policy, reflecting a versatility that complemented his academic achievements.
While Newton’s legacy is undeniably monumental, it is essential to acknowledge the complexities of his character. His reserved and sometimes contentious nature, coupled with periods of social withdrawal, added a human dimension to his story. Newton’s personal idiosyncrasies, including his interests in alchemy and theology, underscored the multifaceted nature of his intellectual pursuits.
In the centuries following Newton’s death in 1727, his legacy has continued to evolve. His ideas have withstood the test of time, remaining foundational to the study of physics and mathematics. The principles elucidated in the Principia remain essential tools for scientists and engineers, guiding our exploration of the universe from the smallest particles to the vastness of space.
Newton’s legacy serves as a reminder of the transformative power of human intellect and the enduring impact of a single individual on the trajectory of human knowledge. His contributions transcend disciplinary boundaries, influencing not only the scientific community but also the broader landscape of human thought and endeavor. As we continue to unravel the mysteries of the cosmos, we do so standing on the intellectual shoulders of Sir Isaac Newton, whose legacy echoes through the annals of scientific history.
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Isaac newton.
Threatening my father and mother Smith to burn them and the house over them.
... setting my heart on money, learning, and pleasure more than Thee ...
... changed his mind when he read that parallelograms upon the same base and between the same parallels are equal.
Thus Wallis doth it, but it may be done thus ...
[ Newton ] brought me the other day some papers, wherein he set down methods of calculating the dimensions of magnitudes like that of Mr Mercator concerning the hyperbola, but very general; as also of resolving equations; which I suppose will please you; and I shall send you them by the next.
... having no more acquaintance with him I did not think it becoming to urge him to communicate anything.
... that the Attraction always is in a duplicate proportion to the Distance from the Center Reciprocall ...
After his 1679 correspondence with Hooke , Newton, by his own account, found a proof that Kepler's areal law was a consequence of centripetal forces, and he also showed that if the orbital curve is an ellipse under the action of central forces then the radial dependence of the force is inverse square with the distance from the centre.
... asked Newton what orbit a body followed under an inverse square force, and Newton replied immediately that it would be an ellipse. However in 'De Motu..' he only gave a proof of the converse theorem that if the orbit is an ellipse the force is inverse square. The proof that inverse square forces imply conic section orbits is sketched in Cor. 1 to Prop. 13 in Book 1 of the second and third editions of the 'Principia', but not in the first edition.
... all matter attracts all other matter with a force proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
Be courageous and steady to the Laws and you cannot fail.
Newton was of the most fearful, cautious and suspicious temper that I ever knew.
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Honours awarded to Isaac Newton
Isaac Netwon is synonymous with apples and gravity. He rose to become the most influential scientist of the 17th century, his ideas becoming the foundation of modern physics, after very humble beginnings. But first, the big question: Did an apple really fall on Newton's head and spur him to figure out gravity? Historians say there is likely no more than a grain of truth to the story.
Sir Isaac Newton was born, premature and tiny, in 1642 in Woolsthorpe, England. His father, wealthy but uneducated, died before Newton was born, and he ended up being raised by his grandmother after his mother remarried. It’s said he didn’t excel at school, but he ended up studying law at Trinity College Cambridge, part of Cambridge University. He worked as a servant to pay his bills. And he kept a journal about his ideas.
What got Newton interested in math? He bought a book on the subject and couldn't comprehend it. After getting his bachelor's degree in 1665; he studied math, physics, optics and astronomy on his own (Cambridge was closed for a couple of years due to the plague known as the Black Death). By 1666 he had completed his early work on his three laws of motion . Later he got his master's degree.
Later work focused on the diffraction of light (he used a prism to discover that white light is made of a spectrum of colors ) and the concepts he'd become known for: universal gravitation, centrifugal force, centripetal force, and the effects and characteristics of bodies in motion. His laws are still used by physics students today:
Newton said many things worth remembering, including these philosophical gems:
Newton once said that if he had achieved anything in his research, it was "by standing on the shoulders of giants ." The quote was prophetic. A couple of centuries later, Albert Einstein puzzled over how to reconcile Newton's law of gravity with special relativity, which after several years led to Einstein's theory of general relativity .
While he's best known for his work on gravity, Newton was a tinkerer, too, but more with ideas than physical inventions. He did invent reflecting lenses for telescopes, which produced clearer images in a smaller telescope compared with the refracting models of the time. In his later years, he developed anti-counterfeiting measures for coins, including the ridges you see on quarters today.
Among his biggest " inventions " was calculus. Yes, that's right. Mere math and algebra weren't enough to explain the ideas in his head, so he helped invent calculus (German mathematician Gottfried Leibniz is typically credited with developing it independently at about the same time).
It's said that Newton invented a cat door so his cats would stop scratching to get in, but the truth of that one is a bit sketchy.
He also conceived of an "orbital cannon" that would poke out of a huge mountain, up in space, and with just the right amount of gunpowder could put a cannonball into orbit. This was not something Newton actually imagined building, but rather a way to think about his theories.
Urged by astronomer Edmond Halley (who was studying his now-famous comet), Newton continued to study his notion of gravity and apply it to the motions of the Earth, sun and moon. It all led to his seminal work, published in 1687, called the "Principia" — considered by many as the greatest science book ever written.
Newton's research stopped in 1679 when he had a nervous breakdown. Later, recovered, he spoke out against King James II, who wanted only Roman Catholics to be in powerful government and academic positions. When James was later driven out of England, Newton was elected to Parliament. He had a second breakdown in 1693, then retired from research. Isaac Newton died in 1727.
Among his more eccentric pastimes, Newton also dabbled (or more than dabbled) in alchemy, also called chymistry, with some historians estimating that he wrote more than a million words of alchemical notes, according to curator of rare books at the Chemical Heritage Foundation, James Voelkel.
And in March 2016, researchers announced they had found bought a 17th-century alchemy manuscript written by Newton . The manuscript, which had been hidden in a private collection for decades and turned up at an auction at Bonhams, provided the recipe for "philosophic" mercury, which was considered a step in the process for concocting a mysterious substance known the philosopher's stone; this material was thought to have supernatural powers — the ability to turn any metal into gold and to grant immortality. The manuscript will be available online for enthusiasts to explore.
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Sir Isaac Newton
Apart from discovering the cause of the fall of an apple from a tree, that is, the laws of gravity, Sir Isaac Newton was perhaps one of the most brilliant and greatest physicists of all time. He shaped dramatic and surprising discoveries in the laws of physics that we believe our universe obeys, and hence it changed the way we appreciate and relate to the world around us.
About sir isaac newton, sir isaac newton’s education, awards and achievements, some achievements of isaac newton in brief.
Sir Isaac Newton was born on 4th January 1643 in a small village of England called Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth. He was an English physicist and mathematician, and one of the important thinkers in the Scientific Revolution.
He discovered the phenomenon of white light integrated with colours which further laid the foundation of modern physical optics. His famous three laws of Motion in mechanics and the formulation of the laws of gravitation completely changed the track of physics across the globe. He was the originator of calculus in mathematics. A scientist like him is considered an excellent gift by nature to the world of physics.
Isaac Newton studied at the Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1661. At 22 in 1665, a year after beginning his four-year scholarship, Newton finished his first significant discovery in mathematics, where he revealed the generalized binomial theorem. He was bestowed with his B.A. degree in the same year.
Isaac Newton held numerous positions throughout his life. In 1671, he was invited to join the Royal Society of London after developing a new and enhanced version of the reflecting telescope.
He was later elected President of the Royal Society (1703). Sir Isaac Newton ran for a seat in Parliament in 1689. He won the election and became a Member of Parliament for Cambridge University. He was also appointed as a Warden of the Mint in 1969. Due to his exemplary work and dedication to the mint, he was chosen Master of the Mint in 1700. After being knighted in 1705, he was known as “Sir Isaac Newton.”
His mind was ablaze with original ideas. He made significant progress in three distinct fields – with some of the most profound discoveries in:
Sir Isaac Newton was the first individual to develop calculus. Modern physics and physical chemistry are almost impossible without calculus, as it is the mathematics of change.
The idea of differentiating calculus into differential calculus, integral calculus and differential equations came from Newton’s fertile mind. Today, most mathematicians give equal credit to Newton and Leibniz for calculus’s discovery.
The famous apple that he saw falling from a tree led him to discover the force of gravitation and its laws. Ultimately, he realised that the pressure causing the apple’s fall is responsible for the moon to orbit the earth, as well as comets and other planets to revolve around the sun. The force can be felt throughout the universe. Hence, Newton called it the Universal Law of Gravitation .
Newton discovered the equation that allows us to compute the force of gravity between two objects.
Sir Isaac Newton also accomplished himself in experimental methods and working with equipment. He built the world’s first reflecting telescope . This telescope focuses all the light from a curved mirror. Here are some advantages of reflecting telescopes from optics and light –
Isaac Newton also proved that white light is not a simple phenomenon with the help of a glass prism. He confirmed that it is made up of all of the colours of the rainbow, which could recombine to form white light again.
How did newton discover gravity.
Seeing an apple fall from the tree made him think about the forces of nature.
Calculus is the study of differentiation and integration. Calculus explains the changes in values, on a small and large scale, related to any function.
It’s a telescope invented by Newton that uses mirrors to collect and focus the light towards the eyepiece.
Kepler’s three laws of planetary motion are:
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Today we celebrate Newton’s birthday as January 4th. Originally, according to the “old” Julien calendar, he was born on Christmas Day in 1642. No matter what the case, Newton lived an amazing life. Here are a few interesting tidbits about this important figure in the scientific revolution:
He never knew his father Isaac, who had died months before he was born. Newton’s own chances of survival seemed slim at the beginning. He was a premature and sickly infant that some thought would not live long. Newton was dealt another difficult blow when he was only three years old. His mother, Hannah, remarried, and his new stepfather, Reverend Barnabas Smith, wanted nothing to do with Isaac. The child was raised by his maternal grandmother for many years. The loss of his mother left Newton with a lingering insecurity that followed him the rest of life.
He felt compelled to jot down a list of his sins in one of his notebooks. Already a student at Trinity College at Cambridge University at the time, he divided these sins into acts that happened before and after Whitsunday 1662, or the seventh Sunday after Easter. Newton took even small lapses quite seriously, such as having unclean thoughts or using the Lord’s name. The list also showed a darker side of Newton, including him making threats to burn his mother and stepfather in their home.
He completed his bachelor’s degree at Cambridge University’s Trinity College in 1665 and wanted to continue his studies, but an epidemic of the bubonic plague soon altered his plans. The university closed its doors not long after the disease had begun its deadly sweep through London. During the first seven months of the outbreak, roughly 100,000 London residents had died.
Back at his family home, Woolsthorpe Manor, Newton actually began working on some of his most important theories. It was here that he explored ideas of planetary motion and made progress on his understanding of light and color. Newton may have also made advances in his theory about gravity by observing an apple fall from a tree in his garden.
He was named the Lucasian professor of mathematics at Cambridge in 1669, taking over the post from his mentor Isaac Barrow. Later geniuses to hold this position included Charles Babbage (also known as “the father of computing”), Paul Dirac and Stephen Hawking .
He and Robert Hooke , a scientist perhaps best known for his microscopic experiments, had a long-lasting grudge match. Hooke thought Newton’s theory of light was wrong and denounced the physicist’s work. The pair later clashed over planetary motion with Hooke claiming that Newton had taken some of his work and included it in Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica .
Newton also argued with German mathematician Gottfried Leibniz over who discovered infinitesimal calculus first. Leibniz claimed that Newton had stolen his ideas. The Royal Society launched an investigation into the matter in 1712. With Newton as the president of the society since 1703, it was no surprise that the organization favored Newton in its findings. It was later determined that the two mathematicians had probably made their discoveries independent of each other.
He was elected to Parliament as a representative for Cambridge in 1689 and returned to Parliament from 1701 to 1702. Newton was also active in the economic life of his country. In 1696, he was appointed Warden of the Royal Mint. Newton became the master of the mint three years later and actually changed the English pound from a sterling to gold standard.
He was a famous and wealthy man at the time of his death in 1727, and he was mourned by the nation. His body lay in state in Westminister Abbey, and the Lord Chancellor was one of his pallbearers. Newton was laid to rest in the famed abbey, which also hosts the remains of such monarchs as Elizabeth I and Charles II . His elaborate tomb stands in the abbey’s nave and features a sculpture of reclining Newton with an arm resting on a stack of his great printed works. Other scientists, such as Charles Darwin , were later buried near Newton. The Latin inscription on the tomb praises him for possessing “a strength of mind almost, and mathematical principles peculiarly his own,” according to the official Westminister Abbey website.
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Isaac Newton (born December 25, 1642 [January 4, 1643, New Style], Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, England—died March 20 [March 31], 1727, London) English physicist and mathematician who was the culminating figure of the Scientific Revolution of the 17th century. In optics, his discovery of the composition of white light integrated the phenomena of colours into the science of light and laid the ...
Sir Isaac Newton FRS (25 December 1642 - 20 March 1726/27) was an English polymath active as a mathematician, physicist, astronomer, alchemist, theologian, and author who was described in his time as a natural philosopher. He was a key figure in the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment that followed. His pioneering book Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Mathematical ...
In 1705, he was knighted by Queen Anne of England, making him Sir Isaac Newton. Early Life and Family. Newton was born on January 4, 1643, in Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, England. Using the "old ...
Sir Isaac Newton (1643-1727) was an English mathematician and physicist who developed influential theories on light, calculus and celestial mechanics. Years of research culminated with the 1687 ...
Isaac Newton (1642-1727) is best known for having invented the calculus in the mid to late 1660s (most of a decade before Leibniz did so independently, and ultimately more influentially) and for having formulated the theory of universal gravity — the latter in his Principia, the single most important work in the transformation of early modern natural philosophy into modern physical science.
Isaac Newton (1642-1727) was an English mathematician and physicist widely regarded as the single most important figure in the Scientific Revolution for his three laws of motion and universal law of gravity. Newton's laws became a fundamental foundation of physics, while his discovery that white light is made up of a rainbow of colours revolutionised the field of optics.
Newton, Sir Isaac (1642-1727), mathematician and physicist, one of the foremost scientific intellects of all time. Born at Woolsthorpe, near Grantham in Lincolnshire, where he attended school, he entered Cambridge University in 1661; he was elected a Fellow of Trinity College in 1667, and Lucasian Professor of Mathematics in 1669. ...
Isaac Newton. Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) was one of the world's most famous and influential thinkers. He founded the fields of classical mechanics, optics and calculus, among other contributions to algebra and thermodynamics. His concept of a universal law--one that applies everywhere and to all things--set the bar of ambition for physicists ...
Sir Isaac Newton (Jan. 4, 1643-March 31, 1727) was a superstar of physics, math, and astronomy even in his own time. He occupied the chair of Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge in England, the same role later filled, centuries later, by Stephen Hawking. Newton conceived of several laws of motion, influential ...
A short history of Sir Isaac Newton, the mathematician and physicist that helped invent and explain some of the most fundamental laws of science.
Biography Sir Isaac Newton. Sir Issac Newton (1643- 1726) was an English mathematician, physicist and scientist. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential scientists of all time, developing new laws of mechanics, gravity and laws of motion. His work Principia Mathematica ( 1687) laid the framework for the Scientific Revolution of the ...
A genius with dark secrets. Isaac Newton changed the way we understand the Universe. Revered in his own lifetime, he discovered the laws of gravity and motion and invented calculus. He helped to ...
Isaac Newton. December 21, 2023 by Muhammad Tuhin. Isaac Newton (1643-1727) was a renowned English mathematician, physicist, and astronomer. He is best known for formulating the laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation. Newton's contributions laid the foundation for classical mechanics and greatly influenced the scientific revolution.
Biography Isaac Newton's life can be divided into three quite distinct periods. ... Sir Isaac Newton's burning mirror, Notes and Records Roy. Soc. London 43 (1) (1989), 31-51. R Sokolowski, Idealization in Newton's physics, in Newton and the new direction in science (Vatican City, 1988), 65-72.
A drawing of Sir Isaac Newton dispersing light with a glass prism.; Photo: Apic/Getty Images The next time you look up at a rainbow in the sky, you can thank Newton for helping us first understand ...
Isaac Newton Biography. References. By Live Science Staff. published 24 March 2016. ... Sir Isaac Newton was born, premature and tiny, in 1642 in Woolsthorpe, England. His father, wealthy but ...
Isaac Newton was born on January 4, 1643 in the tiny village of Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth, Lincolnshire, England. His father, whose name was also Isaac Newton, was a farmer who died before Isaac Junior was born. Although comfortable financially, his father could not read or write. ... In 1705, he was knighted, becoming Sir Isaac Newton.
Sir Isaac Newton's Education, Awards and Achievements. Isaac Newton studied at the Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1661. At 22 in 1665, a year after beginning his four-year scholarship, Newton finished his first significant discovery in mathematics, where he revealed the generalized binomial theorem.
Early life of Isaac Newton. Sir Isaac Newton at 46 in Godfrey Kneller 's 1689 portrait. The following article is part of a biography of Sir Isaac Newton, the English mathematician and scientist, author of the Principia. It portrays the years after Newton's birth in 1642, his education, as well as his early scientific contributions, before the ...
He never knew his father Isaac, who had died months before he was born. Newton's own chances of survival seemed slim at the beginning. He was a premature and sickly infant that some thought ...
Isaac Newton (25 décembre 1642 J - 20 mars 1727 J, ou 4 janvier 1643 G - 31 mars 1727 G) [N 1] est un mathématicien, physicien, philosophe, alchimiste, astronome et théologien anglais, puis britannique.Figure emblématique des sciences, il est surtout reconnu pour avoir fondé la mécanique classique, pour sa théorie de la gravitation universelle et la création, en concurrence avec ...
Isaac Newton (Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire; 25 de diciembre de 1642 jul. / 4 de enero de 1643 greg.-Kensington, Londres; 20 de marzo jul. / 31 de marzo de 1727 greg.) fue un físico, teólogo, inventor, alquimista y matemático inglés.Es autor de los Philosophiæ naturalis principia mathematica, más conocidos como los Principia, donde describe la ley de la gravitación universal y estableció ...
Isaac Newton - ( inglizce Isaac Newton; 1642 s. decabr 25, Woolsthorpe Manor, Büyük Britaniya — 1727 s. mart 3, Kensington, Büyük Britaniya) - ulı bir fizik bilimcisi. Isaac Newton. inglizce Isaac Newton [1] Doğğan künü. 1642 dekabr 25 (1642 dekabr 25) [2] [3] [4] […] Doğğan yeri.