Isaac Newton: life, work, and scientific contributions

Isaac Newton was the greatest and the most influential scientist of all times. Born in Woolsthrope, England on a Christmas day in 1642 Newton was a bright child with an incredible mechanical aptitude. Newton entered the Cambridge University when he was eighteen years of age and soon he mastered the science and mathematical concepts of his time and went on to continue his independent research. It was during this period that Newton laid the foundation for the subsequent discoveries that were to revolutionize the scientific world. Newton was conferred the honorable Fellow of Royal Society of London in 1671.

Previously scientific research was totally bereft of any standardized principles. It is to the credit of Newton that he established a unified theory of approach to modern science. One of his earliest findings was the startling discovery of the nature of white light. Newton was the first to discern that white light was a combination of all the colors of the rainbow. (The VIBGYOR). Based on his understanding of the optical properties Newton designed the reflecting telescope in 1668 and the greatness of this invention lies in the fact that it still continues to be used in all the major astronomical observatories of the world. Unfortunately for Newton he had to face a hard time as he evoked considerable objection from the other scientific community for his findings in optics. He himself wrote on December 9, 1675, "I was so persecuted with discussions arising out of my theory of light, that I blamed my own imprudence for parting with so substantial a blessing as my quiet to run after a shadow." [D.R Wilkins]

Newton's discoveries in optics were offset by his even more groundbreaking discoveries in pure mathematics and the science of mechanics. One of the most important modern mathematical tools 'The Integral Calculus' was the brainchild of Newton. It need not be mentioned that without this mathematical tool the progress that the scientific community achieved in many disciplines would have been significantly delayed. However Newton's discoveries in the field of mechanics outweigh all his other accomplishments. Though Galileo had already discovered the first law of motion his theory was based on the movement of objects without any external influence or attraction between them. Newton's three laws of motion explained the hitherto inexplicable behavior of all physical bodies in motion. Still more astounding was Newton's discovery of gravity. All these four laws put together explained the mechanical motion of all earthly and heavenly bodies. Newton not only proposed these laws but also ratified them by using the integral calculus.

Newton published his laws of motion and gravity in his famed work 'Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy' (Principia) in 1687. [Microsoft Encarta] Newton's revolutionary discoveries were applied to a wide array of subjects. The field of Astronomy in particular got a tremendous impetus from his laws of motion. Using these laws Newton was able to precisely identify and predict the position of planets and other heavenly bodies. This was a significant milestone in the field of astronomy and for this reason Newton is rightly regarded by many as the greatest of all astronomers.