Sir Isaac Newton Interesting Facts
Sir Isaac Newton is without doubt one of the most famous scientist in history. He lived in the 1600s but many of his theories still hold true today. He set the stage
for centuries of scientist to follow him giving them the knowledge needed to make their own great discoveries. Below you will find a list of interesting facts about
this great man who made some amazing discoveries about our world. There is information on what his great contributions to science were and where he was born and died.
The list below is written for both kids and adults and we have tried to write it in an informative fun manner.
Interesting Facts about Isaac Newtons Life
- Isaac Newton was born in England in 1642. He was born premature and it was expected that he would die. If this had occurred it is most likely the progress of
science may have been delayed by decades.
- He attended Cambridge University starting in 1661.
- In 1669 at the age of 26 he became a math professor at Trinity College (a part of Cambridge University). He lectured at the college up until 1696.
- In 1696 Newton moved to London after accepting a very prestigious post as Warden of the Mint. He brought order to the Mint reorganizing it and bringing in new
equipment. Upon the death of his superior the Master of the Mint in 1699 Newton took over that position which he retained until his death.
- He was elected to the British parliament and served for one year.
- He earned the title "sir" upon his being knighted in 1705 by Queen Anne of England.
- As is quite often not true of scientist Newton was religious. He was a devout Christian who in fact believed God influenced every aspect of life.
- Isaac Newton was extremely interested in Alchemy which was a form of misguided science that preceded chemistry. Alchemist believed they could transform other
materials into gold. Newton wrote over one hundred and sixty books on this subject.
- Newton appreciated the work of the great and famous scientist that proceeded him as is apparent by his quote " If I have seen further than others, it is by
standing upon the shoulders of giants".
Facts about Newtons Contributions to Science
- In 1687 he published what is widely regarded as one of the greatest books on science called Philosophae Naturalis Principia Mathematica. He wrote about universal
gravitation and about three laws of motion. He mathematically proved that these laws applied not only to earth but to the entire universe.
- This famous scientist invented the first functional reflecting telescope. This type of telescope uses a concave mirror to capture the image being viewed. With this
invention Newton was able to explore much further into space than ever before.
- Newton contributed greatly to the field of optics. He discovered and proved, with the use of a prism, that white light (sunlight) is a combination of several
colors. Before Newtons experiments it was believed that white light contained no color.
- His creation of the Binomial Theorem and Calculus where huge leaps in the field of mathematics and opened the way for more accurate calculations of the universe. Even today scientist use his discoveries to make their own great discoveries.