Isaac Newton

The great English scientist Isaac Newton was born on December 25, 1642 not far from the university town of Cambridge. In 1661 Newton entered the University of Cambridge where he studied mathematics. When Newton was twenty-two years old he began studying the theory of gravitation. In 1665, while he was on a visit to his native village, he saw an apple fall from a tree and began wondering what force made the apple fall.

Newton worked out the methods of calculus. He performed many experiments with light and found that white light was made up of rays of different colours. He invented a reflecting telescope, that was very small in diameter but magnified objects to forty diameters. Newton developed a mathematical method which is known as the Binomial Theorem and also differential and integral calculus.

In 1669 Newton was appointed professor and began lectures on mathematics and optics at Cambridge and continued his work on the problem of gravitation. In 1673 Newton completed his theory. By examining the attraction of one mass by another Newton treated the problems of the sun, moon and earth like problems of geometry. The proof of Newton's universe square law was not complete. His great work "Elements of Natural Philosophy" was published in 1687.

Newton's law of universe squares joined in one simple mathematical statement the behaviour of the planets as well as of bodies on this earth. It was the first synthesis of physical knowjedge. Newton's contribution to science is unique.

Isaac Newton died at the age of 85. He was buried with honours as a national hero. It was the first time that national honours of this kind had been accorded in England to a man of science.