IsaacIsaacNewtonNewton—— thethe GreatGreat

English English ScientistScientist

He was born in 1642 in a He was born in 1642 in a little village in Lincolnshire: little village in Lincolnshire: Newton’s father was a farmer Newton’s father was a farmer and died before his son’s and died before his son’s birth.birth.

When Newton was 15, his When Newton was 15, his uncle removed him from uncle removed him from school because he wanted to school because he wanted to make a farmer of him. make a farmer of him.

But a young Isaac was a bad But a young Isaac was a bad farmer and his uncle sent farmer and his uncle sent him to the University of him to the University of Cambridge.Cambridge.

After graduation from the University he After graduation from the University he became a professor of Mathematics and became a professor of Mathematics and lectured at Cambridge for more than 30 lectured at Cambridge for more than 30 years.years.

It was the most important period in his life It was the most important period in his life when he made his three great discoveries when he made his three great discoveries — those of the differential calculuses, of — those of the differential calculuses, of the nature of white light and of the law of the nature of white light and of the law of gravitation.gravitation.

He advanced an idea that light consisted He advanced an idea that light consisted of small particles — corpuscles (today the of small particles — corpuscles (today the scientists call them photons).scientists call them photons).

Newton was also interested in the Newton was also interested in the problem of what was the cause of the problem of what was the cause of the motion of the planets.motion of the planets.

He came to the conclusion that the He came to the conclusion that the

force that kept the planets in the orbits force that kept the planets in the orbits

round the Sun was the same force that round the Sun was the same force that

caused objects to fall onto the ground, caused objects to fall onto the ground,

namely, the force of gravitynamely, the force of gravity..

A popular legend says that he made A popular legend says that he made

this discovery while observing the fall this discovery while observing the fall

of an apple from a tree in his garden.of an apple from a tree in his garden.

Newton was not only theorist but a great Newton was not only theorist but a great inventor, too: he invented a mirror inventor, too: he invented a mirror telescope.telescope.

On March 20, the same year he died On March 20, the same year he died

and was buried in Westminster Abbeyand was buried in Westminster Abbey

There is a monument to Newton in There is a monument to Newton in

Trinity College at Cambridge with the Trinity College at Cambridge with the

inscription: “Newton Who Surpassed inscription: “Newton Who Surpassed

All Men of Science”.All Men of Science”.