Famous for:
- Gravity! Newton was the first to develop a theory of
gravitation
- Newton's three laws of motion
- Working with optics, light and colour - he showed that the
spectrum could be formed by splitting white light through a
prism
- Developing the theory of calculus - much to the dismay of maths
students everywhere
Newton often said that his theory of gravity was inspired by
watching an apple fall from a tree. Did it really happen like that?
Newton probably exaggerated this story, although seeing apples fall
from trees may have influenced his ideas.
Scientists now think that the appearance of a comet in 1680 and
1681 prompted Newton's theory of gravity. In 1680, the comet was
visible for a long time, before disappearing behind the sun. In
1681, a comet appeared again! Was it the same comet in 1680 and
1681? If so, the comet's path must have bent a lot. If the sun
could bend the path of a comet, Newton realised there had to be an
unseen force at work. He called it gravity. His
idea didn't come from an apple falling from a tree, but from a
comet passing behind the sun.
A comet - not an apple -
influenced Newton's theory of gravity
Newton's ideas on gravity were the foundation of modern physics.
He is widely regarded as one of the world's most influential
scientists.
To find out more about Newton's work on light and colour, go to
Can you
make a rainbow disappear? and All the
colours of the rainbow.