SIR ISAAC NEWTON

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SIR ISAAC NEWTON

• a brief biographical sketch by
• Carl J. Wenning

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Sir Isaac Newton

• English scientist and mathematician
• Born Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, December 25,
  1642 (Julian Calendar)
• Died London, March 20, 1727

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Most notable accomplishments

• Invention of the reflecting telescope
• Laws of motion
• Law of universal gravitation
• Principia Mathematica

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Additional Background

• Un-notable childhood
• Graduated Cambridge 1665 without distinction
• Went to mothers farm due to plagues and began to
  wonder about gravity
• Wondered about acceleration due to gravity for
  both moon and apple

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Cogitation
Cogitation

• How does acceleration of the relate to the
  acceleration of the ?
• a v2/d and a 9.8m/s2
• But v 2pd/t where d 60r
• Now, a /a 3,600 602!
• Therefore, a is proportional to d2 !

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Verification

• From Keplers observation,
• Now if law of gravitation is correct, then
• Which reduces to Keplers third law!
• That is, KIII holds simply because

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Newton

• Announced law of gravitation only 15 years later
  due to uncertainty of equivalency.
• Study of light (spectra) and optics (lenses)
• Invents telescope to avoid chromatic abber.
• Developed calculus to see if gravity like pt.
• Enunciated three laws of motion
• Mathematical Principles of Natural Philos.

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Because of criticism

• Began to live the life of a recluse
• Worked on transmutation of lead
• Appointed warden of Royal mint
• Calculated insurance tables
• Elected president of Royal Society in 1703 (after
  the death of Hooke, the so-called universal
  claimant)
• Now buried in Londons Westminster Abbey