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Isaac Newton

Isaac Newton was an influential English scientist born in 1643. He developed the laws of motion and universal gravitation, invented calculus, and built the first practical reflecting telescope. Newton published his work Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica in 1687, laying out his three laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation, which helped explain the movement of planets. Considered one of the most important scientists in history, Newton made seminal contributions to physics and mathematics.

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429 views

Isaac Newton

Isaac Newton was an influential English scientist born in 1643. He developed the laws of motion and universal gravitation, invented calculus, and built the first practical reflecting telescope. Newton published his work Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica in 1687, laying out his three laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation, which helped explain the movement of planets. Considered one of the most important scientists in history, Newton made seminal contributions to physics and mathematics.

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ISAAC NEWTON

Isaac Newton is considered one of the most


important scientists in history. Isaac Newton was born in
Woolsthorpe, England on January 4, 1643. His father, a
farmer who was also named Isaac Newton, had died three
months before his birth. His mother remarried when Isaac
was three years old and left young Isaac in the care of his
grandparents.
The young Isaac attended school at King’s School,
Grantham in Lincolnshire. 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, but Isaac had no interest in becoming a farmer and
was soon back at school.
In 1661, Isaac began to attend college at Cambridge. He would spend much of his life at
Cambridge, becoming a professor of mathematics and a fellow of the Royal Society. He eventually
was elected to represent Cambridge University as a member of parliament.
Isaac had to leave Cambridge from 1665 to 1667 because of the Great Plague. He spent these
two years in study and isolation at his home in Woolsthorpe developing his theories on calculus,
gravity, and the laws of motion.
In 1696 Newton became the warden of the Royal Mint in London. He took his duties
seriously and tried to get rid of corruption as well as to reform the currency of England. He was
elected President of the Royal Society in 1703 and was knighted by Queen Anne in 1705.
In 1687 Newton published his most important work called the Philosophiae Naturalis
Principia Mathematica (which means "Mathematical principals of Natural Philosophy"). In this
work he described the three laws of motion as well as the law of universal gravity.
Isaac Newton made many scientific discoveries and inventions throughout his career. Here is
a list of some of the most important and famous ones:

 Gravity - Newton is probably most famous for discovering gravity. Outlined in the Principia,
his theory about gravity helped to explain the movements of the planets and the Sun. This
theory is known today as Newton's law of universal gravitation.
 Laws of Motion - Newton's laws of motion were three fundamental laws of physics that laid
the foundation for classical mechanics.
 Calculus - Newton invented a whole new type of mathematics which he called "fluxions."
Today we call this math calculus and it is an important type of math used in advanced
engineering and science.
 Reflecting Telescope - In 1668 Newton invented the reflecting telescope. This type of
telescope uses mirrors to reflect light and form an image. Nearly all of the major telescopes
used in astronomy today are reflecting telescopes.

Interesting Facts about Isaac Newton:

 He studied many classic philosophers and astronomers such as Aristotle, Copernicus,


Johannes Kepler, Rene Descartes, and Galileo.
 Legend has it that Newton got his inspiration for gravity when he saw an apple fall from a
tree on his farm.
 He wrote his thoughts down in the Principia at the urging of his friend (and famous
astronomer) Edmond Halley. Halley even paid for the book's publication.
 He once said of his own work "If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the
shoulders of giants."

Newton died on March 31, 1727 in London, England. Today, he is considered one of the
most influential scientists of all time alongside greats such as Albert Einstein, Aristotle, and Galileo.

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