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Biography of Isaac Newton (1642-1727)

Short biography:

Education: Cambridge university

Place of Birth: Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, England

A place of death: Kensington, Middlesex, England, Kingdom of Great Britain

- English astronomer, physicist, mathematician: biography with photo, ideas and Newton's classical physics, law gravity, the three laws of motion.

Sir was an English physicist and mathematician from a poor farming family. His short biography began December 25, 1642 at Woolsthorpe near Grantham in Lincolnshire. Newton was a poor farmer and was eventually sent to Trinity College at the University of Cambridge for training as a preacher. While studying at Cambridge, Newton pursued his personal interests and studied philosophy and mathematics. He received his bachelor's degree in 1665 and was later forced to leave Cambridge as it was closed due to the plague. He returned in 1667 and was admitted to the fraternity. Isaac Newton received his master's degree in 1668.

Newton is considered one of the greatest scientists in history. In the course of his brief biography, he made significant investments in many industries modern sciences. Unfortunately, the famous story of Newton and the apple is largely based on fiction rather than real events. His discoveries and theories laid the foundation for further progress in science since that time. Newton was one of the founders of the mathematical branch, which was referred to as calculus. He also unraveled the riddle of light and optics, formulated the three laws of motion, and with their help created the law of universal gravitation. Newton's laws of motion are among the most fundamental natural laws in classical mechanics. In 1686 Newton described own discoveries in his Principia Mathematica. Newton's three laws of motion, when unified, underlie all interactions of force, matter, and motion, beyond those involving relativity and quantum effects.

Newton's first law of motion is the Law of Inertia. In short, it lies in the fact that an object at rest tends to remain in this state until it is affected by an external force.

Newton's second law of motion states that there is a relationship between unbalanced forces acting on a particular object. As a result, the object accelerates. (In other words, force equals mass times acceleration, or F = ma).

Newton's third law of motion, also referred to as the principle of action and reaction, describes that absolutely for every action there is an equivalent response. After a severe nervous breakdown in 1693, Newton withdrew from his own studies to seek a governorship in London. In 1696 he became rector of the Royal Mint. In 1708 Newton was elected Queen Anne. He is the first scientist to be so honored for his work. From that moment on, he was known as Sir Isaac Newton. The scientist devoted much of his time to theology. He wrote a large number of prophecies and predictions about subjects that were of interest to him. In 1703 he was chosen to be President of the Royal Society and was re-elected every year until his death on March 20, 1727.

Newton's father did not live to see the birth of his son. The boy was born sickly, prematurely, but still survived. The fact of being born on Christmas Day was considered by Newton to be a special sign of fate. Despite a difficult birth, Newton lived to be 84 years old.

Trinity College Clock Tower

The boy's patron was his maternal uncle, William Ayskoe. As a child, Newton, according to contemporaries, was closed and isolated, loved to read and make technical toys: clocks, a windmill, etc. After graduating from school (), he entered Trinity College (Holy Trinity College) of Cambridge University. Even then, his powerful character was formed - scientific meticulousness, the desire to get to the bottom, intolerance to deceit and oppression, indifference to public glory.

The scientific support and inspirers of Newton's creativity to the greatest extent were physicists: Galileo, Descartes and Kepler. Newton completed their work by combining in universal system peace. Lesser but significant influence was exerted by other mathematicians and physicists: Euclid, Fermat, Huygens, Wallis and his immediate teacher Barrow.

It seems that Newton made a significant part of his mathematical discoveries as a student, in the "plague years" -. At 23, he was already fluent in the methods of differential and integral calculus, including the expansion of functions into series and what was later called the Newton-Leibniz formula. Then, according to him, he discovered the law of universal gravitation, more precisely, he was convinced that this law follows from Kepler's third law. In addition, Newton during these years proved that White color there is a mixture of colors, deduced the Newton binomial formula for an arbitrary rational exponent (including negative ones), etc.

Experiments in optics and color theory continue. Newton investigates spherical and chromatic aberrations. To minimize them, he builds a mixed reflecting telescope (a lens and a concave spherical mirror that he polishes himself). Seriously fond of alchemy, conducts a lot of chemical experiments.

Ratings

The inscription on Newton's grave reads:

Here lies Sir Isaac Newton, the nobleman who, with an almost divine mind, was the first to prove with the torch of mathematics the motion of the planets, the paths of comets and the tides of the oceans.
He investigated the difference between light rays and the resulting various properties flowers that no one had previously suspected. A diligent, wise and faithful interpreter of nature, antiquity and Holy Scripture, he affirmed the greatness of the Almighty God with his philosophy, and expressed the evangelical simplicity in his temper.
Let mortals rejoice that such an adornment of the human race existed.

Statue of Newton at Trinity College

A statue erected to Newton in 1755 at Trinity College is inscribed with verses from Lucretius:

Qui genus humanum ingenio superavit(In his mind he surpassed the human race)

Newton himself assessed his achievements more modestly:

I do not know how the world perceives me, but to myself I seem to be only a boy playing on the seashore, who amuses himself by looking for a pebble more colorful than others, or a beautiful shell, from time to time, while the great ocean of truth spreads before me unexplored.

Nevertheless, in book II, by introducing the moments (differentials), Newton again confuses the matter, in fact considering them as actual infinitesimals.

It is noteworthy that Newton was not at all interested in number theory. Apparently, physics was much closer to him than mathematics.

Mechanics

Newton's Elements page with the axioms of mechanics

Newton's merit is the solution of two fundamental problems.

  • Creation of an axiomatic basis for mechanics, which actually transferred this science to the category of rigorous mathematical theories.
  • Creation of dynamics that connects the behavior of the body with the characteristics of external influences on it (forces).

In addition, Newton finally buried the idea, which had taken root since ancient times, that the laws of motion of the earth and celestial bodies completely different. In his model of the world, the entire universe is subject to uniform laws.

Newton also gave rigorous definitions of such physical concepts as amount of movement(not quite clearly used by Descartes) and force. He introduced into physics the concept of mass as a measure of inertia and, at the same time, of gravitational properties (previously, physicists used the concept weight).

Euler and Lagrange completed the mathematization of mechanics.

Gravity theory

Newton's law of gravity

The very idea of ​​a universal gravitational force was repeatedly expressed even before Newton. Earlier, Epicurus, Gassendi, Kepler, Borelli, Descartes, Huygens and others thought about it. Kepler believed that gravity is inversely proportional to the distance to the Sun and extends only in the plane of the ecliptic; Descartes considered it the result of vortices in the ether. There were, however, guesses with the correct formula (Bulliald, Wren, Hooke), and even kinematically justified (by correlating the formula of the centrifugal force of Huygens and Kepler's third law for circular orbits). . But before Newton, no one was able to clearly and mathematically conclusively link the law of gravity (a force inversely proportional to the square of distance) and the laws of planetary motion (Kepler's laws). Only with the works of Newton does the science of dynamics begin.

It is important to note that Newton did not just publish a supposed formula for the law of universal gravitation, but actually proposed a complete mathematical model in the context of a well-developed, complete, explicitly formulated, and systematic approach to mechanics:

  • law of gravitation;
  • the law of motion (Newton's 2nd law);
  • system of methods for mathematical research (mathematical analysis).

Taken together, this triad is sufficient to fully investigate the most complex motions of celestial bodies, thus creating the foundations of celestial mechanics. Prior to Einstein, no fundamental amendments to this model were needed, although the mathematical apparatus turned out to be necessary to be significantly developed.

Newton's theory of gravitation caused many years of debate and criticism of the concept of long-range action.

An important argument in favor of the Newtonian model was the rigorous derivation of Kepler's empirical laws on its basis. The next step was the theory of the motion of comets and the moon, set out in the "Principles". Later, with the help of Newtonian gravity, high precision all observed movements of celestial bodies are explained; this is the great merit of Euler, Clairaut and Laplace, who developed the perturbation theory for this. The foundation of this theory was laid by Newton, who analyzed the motion of the moon using his usual series expansion method; along the way, he discovered the causes of the then known anomalies ( inequalities) in the motion of the moon.

The first observable corrections to Newton's theory in astronomy (explained by general relativity) were discovered only after more than 200 years (shift of the perihelion of Mercury). However, they are very small within solar system.

Newton also discovered the cause of tides: the attraction of the Moon (even Galileo considered tides to be a centrifugal effect). Moreover, having processed long-term data on the height of the tides, he calculated the mass of the moon with good accuracy.

Another consequence of gravity was the precession of the earth's axis. Newton found that due to the oblateness of the Earth at the poles earth's axis makes under the influence of the attraction of the Moon and the Sun a constant slow displacement with a period of 26,000 years. Thereby ancient problem"anticipation of the equinoxes" (first noted by Hipparchus) found a scientific explanation.

Optics and Theory of Light

Newton owns fundamental discoveries in optics. He built the first mirror telescope (reflector) which, unlike purely lens telescopes, was free of chromatic aberration. He also discovered the dispersion of light, showed that white light is decomposed into the colors of the rainbow due to the different refraction of rays of different colors when passing through a prism, and laid the foundations for a correct theory of colors.

During this period, there were many speculative theories of light and color; mostly fought Aristotle's point of view (" different colors is a mixture of light and dark in different proportions") and Descartes ("different colors are created by the rotation of light particles at different speeds"). Hooke, in his Micrographia (1665), offered a variant of Aristotelian views. Many believed that color is not an attribute of light, but of an illuminated object. General discord aggravated the cascade of discoveries of the 17th century: diffraction (1665, Grimaldi), interference (1665, Hooke), double refraction (1670, Erasmus Bartholin ( Rasmus Bartholin), studied by Huygens), an estimate of the speed of light (1675, Römer). There was no theory of light compatible with all these facts.

Light dispersion
(Newton's experience)

In his speech before the Royal Society, Newton refuted both Aristotle and Descartes, and convincingly proved that white light is not primary, but consists of colored components with different angles refraction. These components are primary - Newton could not change their color by any tricks. Thus, the subjective sensation of color received a solid objective base - the refractive index.

Newton created the mathematical theory of the interference rings discovered by Hooke, which have since been called "Newton's rings".

Title page Newton's "optics"

In 1689, Newton stopped research in the field of optics - according to a common legend, he vowed not to publish anything in this area during the life of Hooke, who constantly pestered Newton with painfully perceived criticism by the latter. In any case, in 1704, the year after Hooke's death, the monograph "Optics" was published. During the life of the author, "Optics", like "Beginnings", went through three editions and many translations.

The book of the first monograph contained the principles of geometric optics, the doctrine of the dispersion of light and the composition of white color with various applications.

He predicted the oblateness of the Earth at the poles, about 1:230. At the same time, Newton used a model of a homogeneous fluid to describe the Earth, applied the law of universal gravitation and took into account the centrifugal force. At the same time, similar calculations were performed by Huygens, who did not believe in the long-range gravitational force and approached the problem purely kinematically. Accordingly, Huygens predicted more than half the contraction as Newton, 1:576. Moreover, Cassini and other Cartesians argued that the Earth is not compressed, but convex at the poles like a lemon. Subsequently, although not immediately (the first measurements were inaccurate), direct measurements (Clero , ) confirmed Newton's correctness; real compression is 1:298. The reason for the difference of this value from that proposed by Newton in the direction of Huygens is that the model of a homogeneous fluid is still not quite accurate (the density increases noticeably with depth). More exact theory, which explicitly takes into account the dependence of density on depth, was developed only in the 19th century.

Other areas of activity

Refined chronology of ancient kingdoms

In parallel with the research that laid the foundation of the current scientific (physical and mathematical) tradition, Newton devoted much time to alchemy, as well as theology. He did not publish any works on alchemy, and the only famous result This long-term hobby was the serious poisoning of Newton in 1691.

Newton proposed his version of biblical chronology, leaving behind a significant number of manuscripts on these issues. In addition, he wrote a commentary on the Apocalypse. Newton's theological manuscripts are now kept in Jerusalem, in the National Library.

Notes

Newton's major published writings

  • Method of Fluxions(, "Method of Fluxions", published posthumously, in 1736)
  • De Motu Corporum in Gyrum ()
  • Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica(, "Mathematical principles of natural philosophy")
  • optics( , "Optics")
  • Arithmetica Universalis( , "Universal arithmetic")
  • Short Chronicle, The System of the World , Optical Lectures, The Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms, Amended And De mundi systemate published posthumously in 1728.
  • An Historical Account of Two Notable Corruptions of Scripture (1754)

Literature

Compositions

  • Newton I. Mathematical work. Per. and comm. D. D. Mordukhai-Boltovsky. M.-L.: ONTI, 1937.
  • Newton I. General arithmetic or the Book of arithmetic synthesis and analysis. M.: Ed. Academy of Sciences of the USSR, 1948.
  • Newton I. Mathematical principles of natural philosophy. Per. and approx. A. N. Krylova. Moscow: Nauka, 1989.
  • Newton I. Lectures on optics. M.: Ed. Academy of Sciences of the USSR, 1946.
  • Newton I. Optics or a treatise on the reflections, refractions, bendings and colors of light. Moscow: Gostekhizdat, 1954.
  • Newton I. Commentaries on the Book of the Prophet Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John. Pg.: New time, 1915.
  • Newton I. Corrected chronology of ancient kingdoms. M.: RIMIS, 2007.

About him

  • Arnold V.I. Huygens and Barrow, Newton and Hooke. . Moscow: Nauka, 1989.
  • Bell E.T. creators of mathematics. Moscow: Education, 1979.
  • Vavilov S.I. Isaac Newton. 2nd add. ed. M.-L.: Ed. Academy of Sciences of the USSR, 1945.
  • History of mathematics, edited by A.P. Yushkevich in three volumes, M.: Nauka, 1970. Volume 2. Mathematics of the 17th century.
  • Kartsev V. Newton. M .: Young Guard, 1987.
  • Katasonov V. N. Metaphysical mathematics of the 17th century. Moscow: Nauka, 1993.
  • Kirsanov V.S. Scientific revolution of the 17th century. Moscow: Nauka, 1987.
  • Kuznetsov B. G. Newton. M.: Thought, 1982.
  • Moscow University - in memory of Isaac Newton. M., 1946.
  • Spassky B.I. History of physics. Ed. 2nd. Moscow: Higher School, 1977. Part 1. Part 2.
  • Hellman H. Great confrontations in science. Ten most exciting disputes. M.: Dialectics, 2007. - Chapter 3. Newton vs. Leibniz: Battle of the Titans.
  • Yushkevich A.P. On Newton's Mathematical Manuscripts. Historical and Mathematical Research, 22, 1977, p. 127-192.
  • Yushkevich A.P. Concepts of the infinitesimal calculus of Newton and Leibniz. Historical and Mathematical Research, 23, 1978, p. 11-31.
  • Arthur R.T.W. Newton's fluxions and equably flowing time. Studies in history and philosophy of science, 26, 1995, p. 323-351.
  • Bertoloni M.D. Equivalence and priority: Newton versus Leibniz. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1993.
  • Cohen I.B. Newton's principles of philosophy: inquires into Newton's scientific work and its general environment. Cambridge (Mass) UP, 1956.
  • Cohen I.B. Introduction to Newton's Principia. Cambridge (Mass) UP, 1971.
  • Lai T. Did Newton renounce infinitesimals? Historia Mathematica, 2, 1975, p. 127-136.
  • Selles M.A. Infinitesimals in the foundations of Newton's mechanics. Historia Mathematica, 33, 2006, p. 210-223.
  • Weinstock R. Newton's Principia and inverse-square orbits: the flaw reexamined. Historia Mathematica, 19, 1992, p. 60-70.
  • Westfall R.S. Never at rest: A biog. of Isaac Newton. Cambridge U.P., 1981.
  • Whiteside D.T. Patterns of mathematical thought in the later seventeenth century. Archive for History of Exact Sciences, 1, 1963, p. 179-388.
  • White M. Isaac Newton: The last sorcerer. Perseus, 1999, 928 pp.

Works of art

  • Stevenson, Neil. . Moscow: AST, 2007, ISBN 5-17-037490-9.

Links

  • Newton, Isaac - Philosophical and natural scientific views, bibliography.

see also

  • Historical Tracing of Two Notable Corruptions of Scripture

Sir Newton is rightfully considered one of the most influential scientists of all time and a key figure in the scientific revolution. His book "Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy" ("Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica"), which outlines the foundations of classical mechanics, was first published in 1687. In 1691, Newton was seriously poisoned; after exhumation, his body was found to contain high content mercury.


Newton formulated the laws of motion and gravity that dominated the next three centuries among scientists engaged in the study of the structure of the physical universe. After Kepler (Kepler) discovered the law of motion of the planets of the solar system, refined on the basis of Newton's law of gravitation, the English physicist lost his last doubts about the validity of the heliocentric model of the cosmos.

Newton built the first working reflecting telescope and developed a theory of color based on the observation of white light decomposed by a prism into spectral colors. He formulated the empirical law of thermal radiation and studied the speed of sound. In addition to his work on calculus, Newton contributed to the study of power series, generalized Newton's binomial formula, and developed Newton's method, an iterative numerical method for finding the root of a given function.

Newton was a Fellow of Trinity College (Trinity College) and professor of mathematics at the University of Cambridge (University of Cambridge). Among other things, Newton was fond of alchemy and theology, but did not publish any works on chemistry and alchemy and considered the Bible from a rationalistic position. According to his calculations, the end of the world should not come before 2060. He refused to take holy orders from the Church of England, perhaps because he rejected the doctrine of trinitarianism. Toward the end of his life, Newton became president of the Royal Society.

Isaac Newton was born on January 4, 1643 to a farmer's family in the village of Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth, Lincolnshire (Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth, Lincolnshire). Father did not live to see Newton's birth. Mother, Anna Ayscough, remarried a 63-year-old widower and had three children. She began to pay less attention to Isaac, and the boy withdrew, immersed himself in reading and found an outlet in making outlandish technical toys.

In 1655, Newton entered the Grantham School (The King's School, Grantham) and lived in the pharmacist's house. His stepfather died, and in 1659 his mother returned Isaac to the estate, trying to connect him to the management of the household. Newton simply hated rural life and was more willing to do versification than help his mother. In the end, the young man returned back to school, where he became one of the best students.

In 1661, Isaac began studying at Trinity College as a "sizer", a poor student who actually accepted the role of a servant in the college in order to pay for his education. In his student years, Newton still did not make close contacts, was indifferent to fame and completely absorbed in one idea - to get to the very essence in everything. In 1665, Newton received a bachelor's degree. In the wake of his creative upsurge, he outlined for himself about 45 global unresolved issues, both in nature and in human life. In 1665-1667. he formulated his main ideas, which subsequently resulted in a system of differential and integral calculus, in the invention mirror telescope and the discovery of the law of gravity.

Newton has been associated with Trinity College for over 30 years. Here he conducted his experiments on the decomposition of light. In 1668 he was awarded a master's degree; Newton received a separate room for housing and a salary. He conscientiously lectured to a group of students on standard academic subjects, but was never popular and had poor attendance in his classes.

In 1687, Isaac published his great work, The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. At the same time, his conflict with King James II (James II) began, only after the overthrow of which Newton was elected for the first time to parliament from Cambridge University.

From 1699, Newton's world system began to be taught at Cambridge, and from 1704 at Oxford University. In December 1701, Newton officially resigned all his posts at Cambridge and resigned. In 1705, for the first time in the history of England, Queen Anne knighted a man for his scientific achievements. However, Sir Isaac Newton, according to one version, was nevertheless knighted for political reasons.

Shortly before his death, Newton "got burned" on securities when the bank went bankrupt. trading company "The South Sea Company". He died in his sleep, March 31, 1727. Cambridge psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen is sure that Asperger's syndrome was the cause of Newton's non-contact and difficulties in social interaction.

On the statue of Sir Isaac Newton(1643-1727), erected at Trinity College, Cambridge, the inscription "In his mind he surpassed the human race" is carved.

Today's post contains a summary biographical information O life path and scientific achievements of the great scientist. We will find out when and where Isaac Newton lived, in which one he was born, as well as some interesting facts about him.

Brief biography of Isaac Newton

Where was Isaac Newton born? Great English, mechanic, astronomer and physicist, creator of classical mechanics, president of the Royal London was born in the village of Woolsthorpe in Lincolnshire at death.

Date of birth of Isaac Newton may have a twofold designation: according to the one in force in England at the time of the scientist’s birth, - December 25, 1642, by , whose action in England began in 1752, - January 4, 1643.

The boy was born prematurely and very painful, but he lived for 84 years and accomplished so much in science that would be enough for a dozen lives.

As a child, Newton, according to contemporaries, was withdrawn, loved to read and constantly made technical toys:, etc.

After graduating, in 1661 he entered Trinity College, Cambridge University. Even then, a strong and courageous Newton was formed - the desire to get to the bottom of everything, intolerance to deceit and oppression, indifference to noisy glory.

In college, he immersed himself in the work of his predecessors - Galileo, Descartes, Kepler, as well as the mathematicians Fermat and Huygens.

In 1664, a plague broke out in Cambridge, and Newton had to return to his native village. He spent two years at Woolsthorpe, during which time his major mathematical discoveries were made.

At the age of 23, the young scientist was already fluent in the methods of differential and integral calculus. Then, as he himself claimed, Newton discovered universal gravitation and proved that white sunlight is a mixture of many colors, and also derived the famous Newton's binomial formula.

No wonder they say that the greatest scientific discoveries are made most often by very young people. This happened to Isaac Newton, but all these landmark scientific achievements were published only after twenty, and some even after forty years. The desire not only to discover, but also to prove in detail the truth always remained the main thing for Newton.

The works of the great scientist opened before his contemporaries completely new picture peace. It turned out that celestial bodies located at great distances are interconnected by gravitational forces into a single system.

In the course of his research, Newton determined the mass and density of the planets and found that the planets closest to the Sun are the most dense.

He also proved that it is not an ideal ball: it is “flattened” at and “swollen” at the equator, and are explained by the action of gravity and the Sun.

Scientific research and discoveries of Isaac Newton

In order to list all the scientific achievements of Isaac Newton, more than a dozen pages are needed.

He created the corpuscular theory, assuming that light is a stream of tiny particles, discovered the dispersion of light, interference and diffraction.

He built the first one - the prototype of those giant telescopes that are installed today in major observatories peace.

He discovered the fundamental law of universal gravitation and the main laws of classical mechanics, developed the theory of celestial bodies, and his three-volume work "Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy" brought the scientist worldwide fame.

Among other things, Newton turned out to be a remarkable economist - when he was appointed director of the British court, he quickly put money circulation in the country in order and launched the issue of a new coin.

The works of the scientist often remained misunderstood by his contemporaries, he was subjected to fierce criticism from colleagues - mathematicians and astronomers, however, in 1705, Queen Anna of Great Britain elevated the son of a simple farmer to a knighthood. For the first time in history, the title of knight was awarded for scientific merit.

The Legend of the Apple and Newton

The story of the discovery of the law of universal gravitation - when Newton's thoughts were interrupted by the fall of a ripe apple, from which the scientist concluded that bodies with different masses were attracted to each other, and then mathematically described this dependence with the famous formula - is just a legend.

However, the British for a whole century showed visitors the “same” apple tree, and when the tree grew old, it was cut down and made into a bench, which is preserved as a historical monument.

Someone is able to multiply five-digit numbers in their minds. Another has difficulty counting the change in the store, but can assemble the Apocalypse machine from the garbage in the garbage heap. Third in power to withdraw general formula everything - if, of course, they remove the straitjacket from him. And sometimes people are born who are able to write a theory of optics over a cup of tea, develop methods of integral calculus at lunch, and sketch out the laws of gravity before going to bed - and all this in an era when witches were sometimes burned in the squares, and famous scientists were seriously interested in the occult.

It is difficult to know much, it is impossible to know everything. But to make great discoveries in completely different areas of fundamental knowledge and to determine the face of science for hundreds of years to come is almost a miracle. There were few people in the world whose portraits hang simultaneously in the classrooms of mathematics, physics, astronomy and cultural studies. And, perhaps, the main "messiah of science" was Sir Isaac Newton. In 2005, the Royal Society of London voted on the most influential physicist in the history of the planet. Newton was considered more significant than Einstein.

Silent and lonely

In April 1642, Isaac Newton, a prosperous but completely illiterate farmer from the small village of Woolsthorpe, married the well-educated 19-year-old Anna Ayscoe from the village of Market Overton. The happiness of the young did not last long. In October, her husband died. And exactly on Christmas, December 25, Anna gave birth to a boy. He was named after his father - Isaac. These circumstances determined the fate of scientific progress, because if Isaac the elder were alive, he would certainly have raised a farmer son.

The baby was born premature. According to the mother, the child was so small that he could fit in a quarter-quart cup. Everyone expected that he would not live even a day. However, despite this, Isaac grew up healthy and lived to be 84 years old.

Three years later, Anna married the wealthy vicar Barnaby Smith, who by that time was 63 years old. She left her son to her parents and moved in with the reverend. The second marriage of his mother "gave" Newton two half-sisters and one half-brother (Mary, Benjamin and Anna). I must say that their relationship was good - having achieved success, Isaac always helped his half-relatives.

Some researchers believe that young Newton suffered from autism. He spoke little (a quality that lasted throughout his life) and became so absorbed in his thoughts that he forgot to eat. Until the age of seven, he often “stuck” on repeating the same sentences, which, of course, did not add friends to the strange boy.

The extraordinary talents of Isaac first appeared on practical grounds. He made toys, miniature windmills, kites(launched lanterns with them and spread the rumor about a comet around), made stone sundial for his house, and also measured the strength of the wind, jumping in its direction and against it.

In 1652, Newton was sent to study at Grantham School. This town was only 5 miles from his home, but Isaac chose to leave his native walls and settled with the Grantham pharmacist - Mr. Clark.

In 1656 the vicar dies and the widow Smith returns to family estate. It cannot be said that Isaac was pleased with her. At the age of 19, he compiled a list of his former youthful sins, where, in particular, he indicated his intention to burn down the vicar's house along with his negligent mother. Anna belatedly decided to take part in the upbringing of her first child and decided that her son would follow in his father's footsteps. Isaac was taken out of school, and for some time he diligently dug up the fields of Lincolnshire.

The introduction to the land did not last long. Through the efforts of the Reverend William Ayscough (brother of Newton's mother and pastor of a neighboring village), English agriculture lost another bad worker. The uncle noticed the young man's scientific progress and persuaded Anna to send her son to the university.

Lonely and brilliant

At first, Newton was a subsizer - in other words, he paid for his studies with housework. In the spring of 1664, he was admitted to Trinity College as a Scholar. This gave him access to the huge library of Cambridge. The young man greedily swallowed the works of Archimedes, Aristotle, Plato, Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo and Descartes - the very giants on whose shoulders, in his own words, he stood in the future.

There is little information about his relationship with classmates. It can be assumed that the withdrawn Newton, who found himself in the citadel of science so adored by him, avoided the wild student life. It is known that once he changed the room due to the "violence" of a neighbor and settled next to the quiet John Wilkins.

Fascinated by optics, Newton devoted a lot of time to observing atmospheric phenomena- in particular, a halo (a ring around the Sun, for details see "MF" No. 11(63), 2008).

It took Isaac a year to gain basic knowledge in mathematics, physics and optics. In July 1665 London was struck by a terrible plague. The number of victims was so great that the university administration sent the students home (for two next years Cambridge has closed and reopened several times.

Newton took a "sabbatical" and returned to his native Woolsthorpe. The tranquility of village life favorably affected Isaac. Noisy students did not distract him from books, so already in January 1665 he defended his bachelor's degree, and in 1668 he became a master.

It will seem strange, but Newton made the main discoveries while still a student of Cambridge. He didn't yell "Eureka!" on every corner and did not seek to popularize his achievements, so that Isaac received world fame only in adulthood.

By the age of 23, the young man had mastered the methods of differential and integral calculus, derived Newton's binomial formula, formulated the main theorem of analysis (later called the Newton-Leibniz formula), discovered the law of universal gravitation and proved that white is a mixture of colors.

All this was done with the help of brief notes in diaries. Judging by them, Newton's thoughts freely jumped from optics to mathematics and vice versa. The silence of the countryside gave him an unlimited amount of time for reflection. He himself attributed his success to the fact that he was constantly thinking.

In 1669 the plague receded. Cambridge came to life again, and Newton was appointed professor of mathematics. At that time, the mathematical sciences also meant geometry, astronomy, geography and optics, but Newton's lectures were considered boring and were not in demand among students - he often had to speak in front of empty pews.

This is interesting
  • Newton was born the year Galileo died. He never left England, and all his travels were limited to a distance of 200 km.
  • Trinity College alumni received 31 nobel prize and 5 Fields Medals (mathematics). 6 British Prime Ministers studied there.
  • The diagram of Newton's Gun was embossed on Voyager's gold plate.
  • Newton first established the oblateness of the Earth at the poles (earlier opinions were expressed that the Earth has elongated poles and is more like a lemon). The equatorial diameter of the planet is 43 km larger than at the poles. Because of this, the most distant point on the surface from the center of the Earth is not Everest, but the top of the Chimborazo volcano (Ecuador).

Mount Chimborazo.