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| | [[Image:Newton.png|right|thumb]] | | [[Image:Newton.png|right|thumb]] |
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| − | '''Sir Isaac Newton''' was an English [[scientist]] who lived from 1634 to 1727. He was a physicist, astronomer, mathematician, alchemist and natural philosopher. He is probably best known for his [[Theory of Universal Gravitation]] and his [[Laws of Motion]]. He also developed [[calculus]] simultaneously with German physicist [[Gottfried Leibniz]]. (Each accused the other of plagiarism, but neither could prove it.<ref>Newton Biography[http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/biography/Newton.html]</ref>). In addition, he invented the reflecting [[telescope]], and made numerous other contributions to his fields of study. | + | '''Sir Isaac Newton''' was an English [[scientist]] who lived from 1634 to 1727. A fundamentalist Christian who accepted the [[Bible]] as the Word of [[God]],<ref>"I have a fundamental belief in the [[Bible]] as the Word of God, written by those who were inspired. I study the Bible daily." Tiner, J.H. (1975). Isaac Newton: Inventor, Scientist and Teacher. Milford, Michigan, U.S.: Mott Media.</ref> Newton was a physicist, astronomer, mathematician, alchemist and natural philosopher. He is probably best known for his [[Theory of Universal Gravitation]] and his [[Laws of Motion]]. He also developed [[calculus]] for the purpose of his work in [[physics]].<ref>Newton's discovery of [[calculus]] was independent of, and likely before, a similar discovery of [[calculus]] by the German physicist [[Gottfried Leibniz]]. (Each accused the other of plagiarism, but neither could prove it. [http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/biography/Newton.html Newton Biography]).</ref> In addition, Newton invented the reflecting [[telescope]], and made numerous other contributions to his fields of study. |
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| | Newton was the first to demonstrate that the same laws that govern the motion of celestial objects also govern the motion of things on [[Earth]]. Newton contributed greatly to the advancement of science. His work also advanced the concept of [[heliocentrism]] (the view that the [[Sun]] is at the center of the [[solar system]]). | | Newton was the first to demonstrate that the same laws that govern the motion of celestial objects also govern the motion of things on [[Earth]]. Newton contributed greatly to the advancement of science. His work also advanced the concept of [[heliocentrism]] (the view that the [[Sun]] is at the center of the [[solar system]]). |
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| | In 1705, in recognition of Isaac Newton's scientific and mathematical contributions, [[Queen Anne]] [[knighted]] him. <ref>Sir Isaac Newton (1642/3–1727): A Scientific Genius, by Ann Lamont[http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v12/i3/newton.asp]</ref> It was the first knighthood to be given for scientific achievement rather than prowess on the battlefield or work in government. <ref>Isaac Newton and God's Law of Gravity[http://www.doesgodexist.org/NovDec01/IsaacNewtonAndGodsLawOfGravity.html] </ref> | | In 1705, in recognition of Isaac Newton's scientific and mathematical contributions, [[Queen Anne]] [[knighted]] him. <ref>Sir Isaac Newton (1642/3–1727): A Scientific Genius, by Ann Lamont[http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v12/i3/newton.asp]</ref> It was the first knighthood to be given for scientific achievement rather than prowess on the battlefield or work in government. <ref>Isaac Newton and God's Law of Gravity[http://www.doesgodexist.org/NovDec01/IsaacNewtonAndGodsLawOfGravity.html] </ref> |
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| − | Newton is often seen as one of the greatest scientists of all time due to his contributions, which inspired [[Kant]] to create the philosophical concepts of the [[categorical imperative]] and the [[synthetic a priori]]. | + | Newton is often seen as one of the most influential men in all of history and perhaps the greatest scientist ever. His work was influential even in philosophy, as he inspired [[Kant]] to create the philosophical concepts of the [[categorical imperative]] and the [[synthetic a priori]]. |
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| − | After his death and burial, Newton was exhumed so he could be buried in a more prominent location in [[Westminster Abbey]]. During this exhumation process, it was discovered that Newton had large amounts of mercury in his body, probably as a direct result of his [[alchemy|alchemical]] experiments. Exposure to large amounts of mercury may explain Newton’s eccentricity in his latter years, as well as his cause of death. <ref>Newton Biography[http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/biography/Newton.html]</ref> | + | After his death and burial, Newton was exhumed so he could be buried in a more prominent location in [[Westminster Abbey]]. During this exhumation process, it was discovered that Newton had large amounts of mercury in his body, probably as a direct result of his [[alchemy|alchemical]] experiments. Exposure to large amounts of mercury may explain Newton’s eccentricity in his latter years, as well as his cause of death.<ref>Newton Biography[http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/biography/Newton.html]</ref> |
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| | == Gravity == | | == Gravity == |
| − | Newton developed the [[Theory of Universal Gravitation]], more commonly known as gravity, when, according to legend, a falling apple struck him on the head. He realized that the same force that pulled the apple to the ground could be what keeps [[Jupiter]]'s moons in orbit. His theory stated that all matter is attracted to matter by a force, whose strength increases proportionally to the mass of the objects involved, and inversely proportional to the squared distance between them. The theory's accuracy was later improved by the theory of [[relativity]], which replaces Newton's theory entirely at cosmological scales but gives similar results at small scales. | + | Newton developed the [[Theory of Universal Gravitation]], more commonly known as gravity, when, according to legend, a falling apple struck him on the head. He realized that the same force that pulled the apple to the ground could be what keeps [[Jupiter]]'s moons in orbit. His theory stated that all matter is attracted to matter by a force, whose strength increases proportionally to the mass of the objects involved, and inversely proportional to the squared distance between them. Newton's theory is based on action-at-a-distance which has always been opposed by some scientists, and now most physicists endorse the very different [[theory of relativity]]. Both predict identical results at small scales, similar results a the scale of the [[solar system]] and different results at cosmological scales beyond the [[solar system]]. |
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| | == Religious Beliefs == | | == Religious Beliefs == |