Newton…

Newton, Isaac (1642–1727) was the English physicist and mathematician who laid the foundations of physics as a modern discipline. He discovered that white light is composed of many colours. He developed the three standard laws of motion.

1. Unless acted upon by an unbalanced force, an object at rest stays at rest, and a moving object continues moving at the same speed in the same straight line.
2. An unbalanced force applied to an object causes it to accelerate in proportion to the force (and in the direction of the force) and in inverse proportion to the mass of the object.
3. To every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

He also developed the Universal Law of Gravitation which he set out in “Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica” (1687) often referred to as “Principia”.

• He was knighted in 1705. Newton’s greatest achievement was to demonstrate that scientific principles are of universal application.
• He clearly defined the nature of mass, weight & force.
• Newton studied at Cambridge where he became a professor at the age of 26.
• He sat in the parliaments of 1689 and 1701-1702 as a Whig.
• He was appointed warden of the Royal Mint in 1696, and master in 1699.
• In his later years, he studied theology, chronology and alchemy.

He guarded his discoveries jealously and sometimes used his position to undermine the work of others.

Questions…

1. From what three primary colours is white light made?
2. What are the three secondary colours?
3. What colours are combined to make each secondary colour?
4. What force is responsible for your weight on Earth?
5. What is a ‘Whig’?
6. What is alchemy?
7. Do you think it is likely that Newton achieved much in his studies of alchemy? Explain your answer.