Isaac Newton: history, theories and curiosities

One of history's leading physicists, mathematicians, philosophers and alchemists, Isaac Newton he left studies and theories that are still used throughout the world today. His works are fundamental references for the study of mathematics and physics. Among his main theories are the law of universal gravitation and the famous Newton's laws.

life and history

Isaac Newton was born in Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth village, located in Lincolnshire, England, on December 25, 1642, according to the Julian calendar, which was used at the time. Fur çGregorian legend, the most used nowadays, his birth is dated in January 4, 1643.

Isaac Newton is the son of Hannah Ayscough Newton and did not get to know his father, who died months before his birth, but inherited his name. Newton's family had a financial situation considered stable and lived off the rural activity on their farm.

Isaac Newton is considered one of the greatest geniuses of his time. [1]

When Newton was three years old, his mother remarried, with a reverend named Barnabas Smith, and went to live with her new husband in North Withan, another village located in Lincolnshire. With that, Newton was left to be

raised by grandparents.

Seven years later, his stepfather died and his mother returned to the farm with three more children: Marie, Benjamin and Hannah. At the time, Newton was already 10 years old and didn't have many emotional ties with his family. From childhood he was regarded as a lonely boy, characteristic he carried for his life.

Home where Newton was born and lived with his grandparents during his childhood in England. [2]

In addition to the estate inherited by his father, Newton had received another as a dowry from Barnabas Smith when he married his mother. At the time, it was customary for young people to grow up learning to work with family businesses, but from an early age, Isaac showed no talent or interest in taking care of the farms..

See too: Understand the history and development of calendars

Studies

At age 12, Newton went to Grantham, where he joined the King's School. In order to study, he had to move to the village and rent a room. Newton managed to stay in the home of a pharmacist, Mr. Clark, from whom he learned a lot.

In school term, Newton was not considered one of the best students in the class., but one episode changed the situation. After being kicked by a boy at school, he challenged him to continue the fight outside the institution. After this situation, which resulted in Newton's aggression to the “opponent”, he decided to change his life and study to be the best in everything he did.

Among the talents he developed was the production of wooden objects, he made their drawings and thus built windmills, furniture and even a four-wheeled cart powered by a crank.

At 18 years old, Newton was accepted in theTrinity College, in Cambridge. At the time, only young people from very wealthy families studied there, and Newton, even though he came from a family well structured financially, he was still considered a poor student and had to assume the position of subsidize (a lower level student). With that, he worked serving meals, cleaning out other students' accommodations, and the like to keep up his studies. This factor also contributed to him continuing to be a lonely and isolated person, not making any relevant friendships at that time.

After a few years, he got a scholarship at the renowned Cambridge University. At that time, he started to be admired by professors, mainly by Isaac Barrow, who occupied the Lucasian chair (chair of the professor of mathematics).

With the scholarship and the financial aid that was given to him as one of the benefits, at age 22, he graduated in humanities. However, even so, he always showed a restless mind and interested in different types of knowledge, which made him continue his studies in other areas.

• Isolation and "legend" of thea CA

England suffered with the black Plague in the mid-1660s, Cambridge University was closed and Newton returned to Woolsthorpe. The period was considered very productive for his studies. At that time, he took several notes with information about optics, mechanics and gravitation.

Whether or not it is a legend or a fact, the best-known story about the gravity law narrates about a apple that fell from a tree above Newton's head during this period of isolation. With that, he reflected on why the fruit had fallen towards the earth and not the other way around.

Apple tree in the backyard of the house where Newton was born. [3]

Even without knowing if the story is true, the supposed apple tree still exists in the place. It remains preserved (as shown in the previous image) and has already yielded seedlings that were planted in several other locations around the world as “part” of Newton's history. There are apple tree roots at Trinity College, Dublin; in Goobang National Park, Australia; in Teddington, London borough; and in a few other places.

• back to Cambridge

After the period of the outbreak of the Black Death in England, Newton returned to Cambridge, participated in a competition and became a professor. Months later, he was already master of humanities.

After a few years, Barrow decided to resign from the Lucasian chair and appointed Newton to fill the position. In 1969, Newton became a Lucasian professor of mathematics. Over time, he received admiration, but in general, was against the publication of his articles, fearing criticism. When his work on the theory of variation of the index of light refraction was publicized, he received negative reviews from philosophers, and further isolated himself. Newton only republished articles after the death of one of the critics.

In his late fifties and with Cambridge University struggling financially, Newton turned to other jobs in London and was elected president of the Royal Society. In addition, he made some friends during the period, continued his studies in the fields of optics and mechanics, and published important works. However, in the last years of his life, his studies were dedicated to alchemy and the questions related to God.

Isaac Newton died in March 1727, at 84 years old, with kidney complications. He never married or had children.

Religion

Among Newton's study interests were Latin, Greek, and the Bible. Biblical prophecies have always interested him, and he he believed in God's action in human life and in nature in general. Although a Christian, on many occasions, contested the practicesof the church Catholic.

Alchemy

For years, Newton devoted himself to the studies of alchemy, an illegal practice at the time. He often linked studies in this area with astronomy, astrology, philosophy, chemistry, physics, and theology. Newton liked the apocalyptic predictions and made calculations to predict when humanity would end.

Cambridge University hid Newton's alchemist studies for over 100 years. In the late 19th century, the institution released lots of “hidden studies” of it, which were acquired by collectors. Only in the last few decades have some manuscripts been made public.

One of Newton's most famous manuscripts is related to philosophical stone, an elixir of life, a mythical substance capable of making a person immortal and turning objects into gold. The legend of the Philosopher's Stone has become known to many through the Harry Potter story books and films.

Know more:Robert Boyle – alchemist chemist and founder of the Royal Society

Isaac Newton's Contributions

• Development of the theory of Newton's binomial, which complements the remarkable product study;

• Study of the law of universal gravitation;

• Study on the optical phenomena that enabled the theory about the color of bodies;

• Development of law of movements, laying the foundations of mechanics;

• Creation and development of the differential calculus and integral calculus — an important tool for the study of physical phenomena.

Also access: How to Solve Newton's Law Exercises

Newton's Laws

Among the main theories left by Isaac Newton, the so-called laws of Newton are among the best known and are the foundation of mechanical physics. The set of three laws explains the movement of bodies. They were published in his most famous work: Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy.

By Giullya Franco
Journalist

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