LECTURE 27

NEWTON – THE SAINT OF SCIENCE

BIOGRAPHY 1642 – 1660

1.Born in Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, England on Christmas Day 1642

2.Son of Robert Newton, an independent farmer

3.His mother, named Hannah4.His father was illiterate and died 3 months

before Isaac was born5.Age 12 – King’s School in Grantham

CONT 1661 - 1667

1.Attended Trinity College, Cambridge2.Discovered the Binomial Theorem while in the

university 3.Worked on Chemistry, Prisms, Calculus,

Considered Lunar Forces1669– 1671

1.On Analysis by Infinite Series.2.Also became Lucassian Professor of Maths at

Trinity3.On the Methods of Series and Fluxions /

Calculus

CONT1672 : Lecture Series, began rivalry with Robert

Hooke1679

1.He posed problem of trying to determine the orbit of the planets, with a force varying inversely as the square of the distance from the sun

2.Newton had proved that the orbit was an ellipse

3.Sir Edmond Halley encourage Newton to publish these results.

1685 – 1686: Newton expanded this principle into his Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy)

CONT1693 – 1696

1. Major controversy with Gottfried Leibniz for invention of calculus

2. Newton did not publish until his Optics in 1704, Leibniz published in 1684

17051. Knighted; first scientist in England so honored2. Died on March 20th, 1727 due to gallstones.

NEWTON’S GREATEST WORKSMathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy♥Natural Philosophy was the study of the laws of

nature♥This book was divided into an introduction and three

books:i. Book 1 - the foundation of the science of

mathematicsii. Book 2 - inaugurates the theory of fluids iii.Book 3 - shows the laws of gravitation at work in

the universe

NEWTON’S GREATEST WORKSFormulated the rule of gravitationProvided mathematical solution for body motionHow to quantify the density of the Earth,

trajectory of comet & the mass of the sun.Contributed in differentiation, integration,

inverfluxion.Invented calculus and its application of dynamics

& astronomy which were not mentioned by Kepler & Copernicus

TRAJECTORY OF COMETS

DISCOVERIES &INVENTIONS

LAW OF GRAVITATION

THE PERFECT COINS

REFLECTING TELESCOPE

LAW OF MOTION

DISCOVERY ON OPTICS

Newton’s 4 Rules of Reasoning in Philosophy

♥ Observation♥ Hypothesis♥ Prediction♥ Confirmation

PHILOSOPHICAL ASPECT His law of universal gravitation showed the

power of the human mind Encouraged natural philosophers to approach

nature directly Insisted upon empirical rationalization to check

rational explanation Alchemy theory

- Alchemy and astrology were considered as divine

- Newton had strong believe on God & Christianity but at the same time on the scientific explanation on phenomena.

PHILOSOPHICAL ASPECT Age of Newton changed thinking perspective of

people. “Spontaneous generation” was seen as a factual

occurrence. Newton’s Regulae (Rules) of philosophizing –

established official relationship between conjecture, observation, experiment, & theory.

Intellectuals (deep thinkers!) of the Enlightenment sought the laws that govern human society

THE END

THANK YOU

PREPARED BY PATHUMAVATHY RAMANTHAN

10B