Newton's Apple story per 18th century hand written narrative

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brian
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Joined: Tue Jul 14, 2009 10:52 am

Newton's Apple story per 18th century hand written narrative

Post by brian »

Many accident reconstruction techniques are based upon applications and extensions of Sir Isaac Newton's fundamental Laws of motion and law of universal gravitation. So information on Newton, his life, his inspirations should be of interest to folks in the field of applied sciences, particularly the field of accident reconstruction. And so comes forth actual scanned handwritten pages from the 18th century which are 1st hand accounts of the life and times of the most brilliant scientist of all time: Sir Isaac Newton. Go to The Royal Society:Turning the Page and select William Stukeley's Life of Newton

Jan 18, 2010, Assocated Press,RAPHAEL G. SATTER :Story of Newton's encounter with apple goes online The story of Newton's observation of an apple falling from a tree to motivate his discovery of the fundamental Laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation. Newton's encounter with the apple ranks among science's most celebrated anecdotes, and it can now be read in the faded cursive script in which it was recorded by William Stukeley, Newton's contemporary.
The Royal Society, an academy of scientists founded in 1660 to discuss and spread scientific knowledge, is marking its 350th anniversary this year by putting more than 60 of its most important scientific papers online. See the Full Story

COMMENT: Interesting that the Newton's Apple story and has developed a life of its own.
It has been hypothesized by folks including author Robert P. Crease who wrote The Great Equations: Breakthroughs in Science from Pythagoras to Heisenberg that the Newton apple story was possibly an invention by Newton to definitively preface his discoveries on the Laws of Motion to any ideas brought forth from Hooke.
Hooke and Newton had their issues.
From Hatch's online account: "...in 1672, shortly after his election to the Royal Society, Newton communicated his first public paper, a brilliant but no less controversial study on the nature of color. In the first of a series of bitter disputes, Newton locked horns with the society's celebrated curator of experiments, the bright but brittle Robert Hooke. The ensuing controversy continued until 1678. In 1675 Newton ventured with yet another paper, which again drew lightning, this time charged with claims that he had plagiarized from Hooke. The charges were entirely ungrounded. Twice burned, Newton withdrew"
"Newton’s 1687 publication Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica is arguably the most important book published in the history of science. Although the Principia was well received, its future was cast in doubt before it appeared. Here again Hooke was center stage, this time claiming (not without justification) that his letters of 1679-1680 earned him a role in Newton's discovery. But to no effect. Newton was so furious with Hooke that he threatened to suppress Book III of the Principia altogether, finally denouncing science as 'an impertinently litigious lady.' Newton calmed down and finally consented to publication. But instead of acknowledging Hooke's contribution Newton systematically deleted every possible mention of Hooke's name. Newton's hatred for Hooke was consumptive. Indeed, Newton later withheld publication of his Opticks (1704) and virtually withdrew from the Royal Society until Hooke's death in 1703.”
Such drama attached to the most significant publication in science!
Interesting yet again that The Royal society has chosen to have a separate Folio for Hooke
is it a continuation of the drama?
Go to The Royal Society:Turning the Page and select William Stukeley's Life of Newton
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