Key facts
- Born
- 1642
- Discoveries
- Gravity, laws of motion, calculus
- Major work
- Principia Mathematica
- Education
- Cambridge University
- Buried
- Westminster Abbey
Sir Isaac Newton was one of the most influential scientists in history. His discoveries about gravity, motion, and light transformed our understanding of the physical world.
Life
- Born: 25 December 1642, Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire
- Died: 20 March 1727, London
- Education: Cambridge University
- Positions: Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, Master of the Royal Mint
Major Discoveries
Laws of Motion
- 1First Law: An object stays at rest or in motion unless acted upon by a force
- 2Second Law: Force equals mass times acceleration (F = ma)
- 3Third Law: Every action has an equal and opposite reaction
Law of Universal Gravitation
- All objects attract each other with a force proportional to their masses
- Legend says the idea came from watching an apple fall
Mathematics
- Invented calculus (independently of Leibniz)
- Advanced algebra and geometry
Optics
- Discovered that white light is made of colours
- Built the first reflecting telescope
Major Work
Principia Mathematica (1687) - One of the most important scientific books ever written, laying out his laws of motion and gravity.
Legacy
- Foundation of classical physics
- Influenced science for 300 years
- Buried in Westminster Abbey
- Honoured on British currency
Why it comes up in the test
Know Newton discovered gravity and his laws of motion.
Common traps
- Confusing Newton with other scientists
- Forgetting he was also a mathematician
Sir Isaac Newton: common questions
Newton discovered the laws of gravity and motion, invented calculus, and made major advances in optics.
Written from Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents (3rd edition), the only official source for the test. BritPass is not affiliated with the Home Office; if anything here differs from the handbook, the handbook is right.
