2009 Calculus Book

Ten We i r d Fac t sAb o u t Ne w t o n1.) Isaac was born prematurely. According to his mother, he could fit inside a quart mug.2.) His mother removed him from school at the age of seventeen and was told he was to become a farmer. Themaster of the school was later able to convince his mother to bring him back.3.) In his study of optics, Newton pushed his eyeball with a stick as far as he could, in order to understandhow the eye perceives light.4.) In addition to his theological studies, Newton was deeply engrossed in the occult, including alchemy andapocalyptic prophecy. He suggested that the world would end or drastically change around 2060 A.D.5.) Newton was a member of parliament twice, once for a year and a second, shorter time. According to some,the only comment he made was on the coldness of the room and a request to close the window.6.) Newton worked at the Royal Mint, eventually inheriting the role of Master of the Mint until his death. Heaccidentally moved the pound from the silver to the gold standard by making gold coins worth more than silver.7.) Newton’s body was found to have an abnormally high amount of mercury when it was examined in modernday. It is possible that his alchemical pursuits resulted in mercury poisoning and his oddness as he grew old.8.) While working at the Mint, Isaac discovered a large percentage of coins recovered in the Great Recoinageto be counterfeit (an act of treason), a large shift in the British economy. The task was daunting considering thescale, however, Newton did the detective work himself by going undercover in taverns. He was even made a justiceof the peace, having ten of his prisoners executed.9.) Newton was far from the first to theorize or ‘discover’ gravity. As far back as Aristotle (4th century BC)theorized on the nature of gravity. It was Galileo who first discovered that all objects fall with equal acceleration.Newton’s discovery was the Inverse-Square law of universal gravitation, which allowed him to make the first complex,accurate quantifications of gravity as a force. The story of the apple was perpetuated by Newton himself, buthe did not state that it hit him in the head.10.) Was known for submitting math proofs anonymously to the Royal Society. It was stated that they knew itwas Newton as “they knew the print of the lion’s paw.”