Isaac Newton (Grade 4, Physics, November 26, 2023)

 

            Isaac Newton was born in Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, England on December 25, 1642, but in New Style, which is changing dates in the Julian Calendar to dates in the Gregorian calendar, (https://www.dictionary.com/browse/new-style#:~:text=for%20New%20Style-,New%20Style,dates%20using%20the%20Gregorian%20calendar), he was actually born on January 4, 1643. (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Isaac-Newton) One of his major scientific contributions was writing the three laws of motion. (Same as above.) The three laws of motion are:

 

1. If a body is not moving or moving straight, it will continue unless a force acts on it. (https://www.britannica.com/science/Newtons-laws-of-motion)
2. The product of mass and acceleration is equal to force. (https://sciencenotes.org/newtons-laws-of-motion/)
3. If one object hits another one, they will both exert effort on each other. (https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/beginners-guide-to-aeronautics/newtons-laws-of-motion/#:~:text=His%20third%20law%20states%20that,opposite%20force%20on%20object%20A)

 

            However, his major discovery was gravity, which is the idea that if you jump, gravity will keep you from getting too high. (https://www.newscientist.com/people/isaac-newton/#:~:text=New%20Scientist%20once%20described%20Isaac,in%20the%20history%20of%20science)

 

            Newton first found out about gravity in 1666. According to John Conduitt, he found out about it when he saw an apple fall from a tree. (https://www.york.ac.uk/physics-engineering-technology/about/newtons-apple-tree/#:~:text=It%20states%20that%3A%20%22he%20first,Manor%20when%20the%20event%20occurred) Afterwards, he kept working to establish the law of gravity. He mentioned it in his book Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. 

 

            Here are some interesting facts about Newton. (All from https://www.twinkl.com.ph/blog/isaac-newton-facts-for-kids)

 

1. He almost gave up on his education. Though he loved school, his mother wanted him to spend more time on the family farm. So she made him leave his school. Isaac did not like working at all and wanted to return to studying. His uncle then helped him return to school. 
2. He had a dog named Diamond. Since electricity was scarce back then, they had to work with a candle. But one time, Diamond actually kicked the candle by accident, causing the laboratory to burn and (probably) forcing Newton to rewrite so much work for over a year!

 

            Isaac Newton’s story is inspiring. Just something simple like an apple falling from a tree could lead to something big. Maybe one day, you will make a big discovery also.