Biography of Isaac Newton
explanatory Essay
1120 words
Isaac Newton was a key figure in the development of the age of reason. His achievements revolutionized physics and mathematics and he has been recognized as an undisputed genius (Gardner 13). Newton was a intriguing individual who played an important role in the advancement of the scientific community of his time and of today.
Newton was born on Christmas day in 1642 to a widowed farming mother. When he was three his mother left him in the care of his grandmother, so she could remarry (Westfall 1). After being widowed for a second time she came back to help care for her son. At the age of twelve he was sent to The King’s School in Grantham to continue his education. Here he began to develop a growing love for books and an interest in handcrafting objects and drawing (DA C. Andrade 27-30). After graduating from the King’s School, Newton went to the University of Cambridge to study at Trinity College. It was here that a professor named Isaac Barrow sparked his interests in mathematics and natural philosophy (science). When he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1665, Newton was forced to leave the university due to the plague rapidly spreading through Europe. He later returned in 1667 to pursue his master’s degree under a fellowship offered to him by the university. Afterreceiving his master’s degree in 1668, he became a Lucasian Professor, as was his peer Isaac Barrow, and resided at Cambridge until 1696 (White 222).
It was during this two-year break from the university that Newton first showed signs of his extreme genius. Spending most of his time in deep thought and meditation, he developed the beginnings, if not in total, the discoveries he would be accredited for the rest of his life and beyond. It was here that N...
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...sts, ...He was the last of the magicians, ...the last great mind which looked out on the visible and intellectual world with the same eyes as those who began to build our intellectual inheritance rather less than 10,000 years ago." (Gardner 16).
Works Cited
- Da C. Andrade, E. N. Sir Isaac Newton: His Life and Work.
New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc, 1976.
- Gardner, Martin. "Isaac Newton: Alchemist and Fundamentalist." Skeptical Inquirer
September/October 1996: 13-16.
- Weisstein, Eric W. "Isaac Newton" Scholarly Internet Biography. Online. LEXIS-NEXIS.
(10 February 1999).
- Westfall, Richard S. "Newton’s Life" 1994. Online. CompuServe. Available
http://www.newton.cam.ac.ut/newtlife.html. (10 February 1999).
- White, Michael. Isaac Newton: The Last Sorcerer. Great Britain: Fourth Estate
Limited, 1997.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that isaac newton was a key figure in the development of the age of reason. his achievements revolutionized physics and mathematics and he has been recognized as an undisputed genius.
- Explains that newton was born on christmas day in 1642 to a widowed farming mother, who left him in the care of his grandmother, so she could remarry. after graduating from the king’s school, newton went to the university of cambridge to study at trinity college.
- Explains that newton's two-year break from the university was the prime of his interest in math and science, as time progressed towards alchemistry and "interpreting biblical prophecy."
- Explains that newton believed in the necessity of god, and that god periodically intervened to keep everything intact and working properly.
- Analyzes how newton's character surprised some and outraged others. he was withdrawn from the world, studied and performed in isolation, and rarely shared his ideas with others; his greatest work, philosophiea naturalis principia mathmatica, wasn't published until 1686.
- Explains that many historians believe that isaac newton was a manic-depressant and there are several accounts of mental breakdowns throughout his life.
- Narrates how newton helped make the university of cambridge a catholic institution. he was elected to the royal mint, where he revitalized the standardization of currency throughout england.
- Explains how newton's four-step method for scientific reasoning revolutionized the way the world operated, and advanced computations of calculus allowed scientists to further develop mathematical principles.
- Explains that newton is the single most important contributor to the development of modern science. in a speech given at the royal society’s newton tercentenary in 1947, keyes sums up newton's importance and effect on society.
- Explains that newton came to be thought of as the first and greatest of the modern age of scientists, rationalists, and magicians. he was the last great mind which looked out on the visible and intellectual world.
- Cites da c. andrade, e. n. sir isaac newton: his life and work. new york: doubleday & company, 1976.
Related
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- Sir Isaac Newtonexplanatory essayHistory has brought many influential scientists. Sir Isaac Newton is perhaps the most influential scientist of all time. Without his works and discoveries, mankind might have been set back many decades or even scores in scientific and technological advancement. Therefore, because of his tremendous impact on mankind, it is important to study Sir Isaac Newton's life and acheivements.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that sir isaac newton is perhaps the most influential scientist of all time. without his works and discoveries, mankind might have been set back many decades or even scores in scientific and technological advancement.
- Explains that sir isaac newton was born in woolsthorpe, england on january 4, 1643. he was underdeveloped and very small, being born a couple months premature to his mother, hannah newton.
- Explains that sir isaac newton's passion for science and mathematics was ignited after his mother had returned to him upon the death of her second husband.
- Narrates how sir isaac newton became interested in advanced science and philosophy with the scientific revolution in full swing. he barely studied and graduated college by the hair on his chin.
- Explains that the great plague swept england, forcing sir isaac newton to return home and wait until the plague was over to resume his education.
- Narrates how newton returned to cambridge after the great plague, published his infinitesimal calculus, and became a professor at cambridge. one of his fellow professors, robert hooke, criticized his work.
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- Explains that sir isaac newton developed abdominal problems after losing his positions in society and being cast out of the world scene. newton died in 1727. people began to realize the importance of his discoveries to science and mankind.
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- Analyzes how newton's mind was pre-occupied with the concept of gravitation and the situation under an apple tree. newton concluded that every matter has a power to attract another matter towards itself.
- Explains newton's most famous contribution to science is the postulation of the three laws of gravitation, which he wrote about in his book philosophi naturalis principia mathematica.
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- Explains that isaac newton's story of how an apple fell from a tree hit his head inspired him to formulate 'the three laws of gravitation'.
- Explains that isaac newton was knighted by queen anne in april 1705 during her visit to trinity college. the knighthood was motivated by political considerations rather than by his scientific achievements.
- Explains newton's first law of motion, the force of inertia, and how it works when flying a kite.
- Explains newton's second law of motion: an applied force of an object equals the rate of change in momentum (p) with time.
- Illustrates how the first and the second law broke away from aristotle's explanation of motion because he believed that force was only required to change an object’s motion.
- Explains that newton's law of motion is applied to objects that have the single point mass, and the distance between the objects is larger than the size of the object.
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In this essay, the author
- Describes sir isaac newton, a space expert, mathematician, and scientist, as one of the best names in the history of human thought.
- Explains sir isaac newton's commitment to science, including the theory of gravity, the law of motion, and the mysteries of light and color.
- Explains newton's first law of motion, which states that a body at rest remains in motion unless acted on by an external force.
- Explains newton's second law of motion, which states that the force acting on an object is equal to the mass of that object multiplied by its acceleration.
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- Explains that newton's book on the refraction of light, titled "opticks," changed the way we consider light and color.
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In this essay, the author
- Opines that sir isaac newton was one of the world's most well-known scientists. he dedicated his life to science, but at the time, it was known as philosophy.
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- Describes how isaac newton lived on a farm most of his life. his family was wealthy and raised sheep. the puritans wanted to purify the catholic/christian/anglican church.
- Describes how isaac's mother brought him books from barnabas smith’s little library, such as "the mystery of nature and art." isaac was a loyal son, but nursed his bitterness towards his parents.
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In this essay, the author
- Narrates isaac newton's life as an inspiring man who helped people figure out why things move and how they move. he had many breakthroughs with his scientific works, including the laws of physics.
- Explains that sir isaac newton was born on january 4, 1643 in the hamlet of woolsthorpe, england. he was the only son of a prosperous farmer.
- Narrates how thomas 2mother brought three children with her. newton was sent to woolsthorpe-by-colesterworth where his mother hoped he would become a promising farmer.
- Narrates how newton's uncle convinced his mother to send him to trinity college, where he was a subsizar. he learned from philosophers such as aristotle, descartes, and galileo.
- Narrates how newton succeeded isaac barrow as professor and invented the newtonian telescope. hooke was offended by newton's discoveries and refused to participate in public debate.
- Explains that newton studied gravitation and the effects of it on planetary orbits. the information was copied into the royal society’s register book in 1684.
- Explains that principia was published on july fifth of 1687 with the help of edmond halley.
- Explains that newton wrote many religious papers discussing the literal and symbolic meanings of the bible. many people believe that he did not believe in the holy trinity.
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- Opines that without newton's discoveries of calculus, gravity, and other important principles, the world would not be the same. scientists are still thomas 7using his basic laws that he discovered.
- Describes the literary reference center's web site, which is based on the fourth edition of cyclopedia of world authors.
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In this essay, the author
- Explains that isaac newton, a renowned physicist and mathematician, was born in 1643. his mother remarried and he was left in the hands of his grandmother.
- Explains that isaac newton's discovery on gravitational pull exceeds his other discoveries. he discovered gravity while he was thinking about the forces of nature when an apple fell.
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In this essay, the author
- Explains that newton's invention of calculus was an important field in mathematics and has a tremendous impact on physics and other subjects.
- Explains newton's third idea concerning the universe. he claimed that the planets were held in place by the sun’s gravity, and he was able to explain the astronomical observations of kepler
- States that o'connor, j. j, and robertson, e.f., “sir isaac newton.” mac tutor history of mathematics, inc.
- Cites smith, george, the stanford encyclopedia of philosophy (fall 2008 edition), edward n. zalta, http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2008/entries/newton.
- States wilkins, d. r., "sir isaac newton (1642-1727)." trinity college dublin school of mathematics inc.
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In this essay, the author
- Describes newton's study of the binomial theorem, light, telescopes, calculus, and theology during the plague years of 1665 and 1666.
- States that hatch, robert a., "lumiarium - sir isaac newton". ed. anniina jokenin.
- Explains that newton was not always aware of the omnipresent laws of physics. he pondered about the events he experienced and the things that happened on his daily life.
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In this essay, the author
- Opines that isaac newton was a determined mathematician and physicist, destined to achieve greatness due to his strong will power and courage.
- Describes ball, rouse's "sir isaac newton." a short account of the history of mathematics.
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- Analyzes how newton's behavior spiraled him into a deeper state of depression than he was in beforehand. his mother was unconnected to him and lacked all necessary parental behaviors.
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1046 wordsRead More - The Contributions of Isaac Newtonexplanatory essaySir Isaac Newton is considered by many people to be the greatest scientist that ever lived. He made key fundamental contributions to mathematics and physics. His revolutionary advances in math, optics, physics, and astronomy are bases for the principles we use today. A little known fact about Newton's legacy is that if you look in an encyclopedia of science, it will reveal at least 2 to 3 times more references to Newton than any other individual scientist.
In this essay, the author
- Describes how newton discovered that white light is a mixture of infinitely varied coloured rays and mathematical patterns in the colours of light.
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- Explains that newton became cambridge's representative in parliament from 1689-90, and was also the president of the royal society from 1703 until his death in 1727.
- Explains that sir isaac newton is considered to be the greatest scientist that ever lived. his revolutionary advances in math, optics, physics, and astronomy are bases for the principles we use today.
- Explains newton's equation, principia, which states that every object in the universe attracts every other object with a force directed along the line of centers for the two objects.
- Explains that a body remains in its state of rest unless it is forced to change that state by force. the change of motion is proportional to the force impressed.
968 wordsRead More