Event Summary:
Isaac Newton unified motion, gravity, and light through precise mathematical laws. His Principia Mathematica (1687) completed the Scientific Revolution by showing that the same physical rules govern both Earth and the heavens.
The Plague Years (1665–1666):
At age 23, Newton isolated at Woolsthorpe during a plague outbreak. There, he developed calculus, optics, and early gravity theories.
Publishes Principia Mathematica (1687):
In this landmark work, Newton formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation—placing mathematics at the heart of natural philosophy.
#1 First Law – Inertia:
A body remains at rest or moves in a straight line at constant speed unless acted upon by an external force.
#2 Second Law – Force and Acceleration:
A body’s acceleration is proportional to the force applied and inversely proportional to its mass: F = m·a = m·(dv/dt)
#3 Third Law – Action and Reaction:
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Discovers Universal Gravitation:
All bodies attract one another with a force proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of their distance: F = G × (m₁·m₂) / r²
Explains Kepler’s Planetary Laws:
Newton’s equations showed that gravity causes elliptical orbits and varying speeds—turning Kepler’s patterns into physical laws.
Advances Optics and Light (1704):
In Opticks, Newton proved that white light is composed of the full spectrum. He used prisms to show how light separates.
Builds Reflecting Telescope (1668):
He invented a telescope using mirrors instead of lenses, reducing distortion and improving clarity.
Presides Over Royal Society:
Elected in 1703, Newton led Britain’s scientific elite and shaped the norms of modern scientific inquiry.
Honored in Life and Death:
Knighted in 1705, Newton died in 1727 at age 84 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
Why It Matters:
Newton’s laws made nature intelligible, unified Earth and sky under one framework, and defined science for the next 300 years.
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