1) Copernicus and Galileo were important thinkers, however flawed. But Newton is a giant among them, a true genius who transformed the world almost single-handedly--certainly single-mindedly. Briefly characterize Newton, the man: comment on his childhood, obsessions, lifestyle.

 

2) Summarize in your own words the "inverse square law". How did Newton arrive at this solution linking gravity to celestial motion?

 

3)Identify major terms, inventions and influences:

Descartes

Reflecting Telescopes

(British) Royal Society

Principia Mathematica