Great Astronomers: Isaac Newton

by Robert Stawell Ball

Sir Isaac Newton (December 25, 1642 - March 20, 1726/27) was an English physicist and mathematician who is widely recognised as one of the most influential scientists of all time and a key figure in the scientific revolution. His book Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica ("Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy"), first published in 1687, laid the foundations for classical mechanics. . Newton's Principia formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation, which dominated scientists' view of the physical universe for the next three centuries. Newton built the first practical reflecting telescope and developed a theory of colour based on the observation that a prism decomposes white light into the many colours of the visible spectrum

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Autobiography, Science

146 pages, Paperback

First published April 16, 2011

About the author

Sir Robert Stawell Ball was an Irish astronomer. He worked for Lord Rosse from 1865 to 1867. In 1867 he became Professor of Applied Mathematics at the Royal College of Science in Dublin. In 1874 Ball was appointed Royal Astronomer of Ireland and Andrews Professor of Astronomy in the University of Dublin at Dunsink Observatory.[1] In 1892 he was appointed Lowndean Professor of Astronomy and Geometry at Cambridge University. His lectures, articles and books (eg. Starland and The Story of the Heavens) were mostly popular and simple in style. However, he also published books on mathematical astronomy such as A Treatise on Spherical Astronomy. His main interest was mathematics and he devoted much of his spare time to his "Screw theory". He served for a time as President of the Quaternion Society. His work The Story of the Heavens is mentioned in the "Ithaca" chapter of James Joyce's Ulysses.

Reviews

[M. Rahman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hoped this book would tell the readers more about Newton't efforts and works on astronomy.
Guess i have to get thicker books for getting satisfaction.
"He told himself that he would have to start reading thicker books: they lasted longer, and made more comfortable pillows." The Alchemist. :P

[Rafa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me ha parecido corta pero muy interesante

[F S · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating book!