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Merry Newtonmas
MERRY NEWTONMAS! by Michael E. Marotta
(c) 2001 originally posted to RCC 12/25/2000 Sir Isaac Newton was born on Christmas Day in 1642. He may have been the greatest scientist in human history. His image appears on coins and bank notes, which is appropriate since he was Master of the Mint. Alone, any of Newton's achievements would have made his mark in history. Together, they encompass not just what we know about the physical world, but how we know it. Newton is best remembered for his Law of Gravity. He also showed that white light is composed of colors. He built the first reflecting telescope. He demonstrated three fundamental laws of motion. He also invented the calculus. Among his lesser victories, he demonstrated vector arithmetic, he delivered an algorithm for conveniently computing square roots, and he proved the Binomial Theorem. It can be difficult to grasp the magnitude of Newton's work. His Principia Mathematica is the basis for all physical science and engineering. Without this understanding, we would have none of the machinery we take for granted. Civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering, statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, even quantum mechanics and relativity, derive directly his work. For these reasons and more, the English poet, Alexander Pope wrote this epigram: "Nature and Nature's laws lay hid in night: God said, let Newton be! and all was light." Numismatists know a series of tokens from Middlesex, England, struck in 1793, that celebrate Sir Isaac Newton. From 1978 to 1985, the one pound notes of the Bank of England featured Newton on the back, holding a copy of his monumental book, Principia Mathematica, turned to the page that demonstrates the elliptical movement of the planets. The front of the note includes the elements from the token of 1793: the caduceus, an olive branch, and a cornucopia. Michael ANA R-162953 Peace on Earth; Goodwill to All |
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Michael E. Marotta wrote:
Sir Isaac Newton was born on Christmas Day in 1642. He may have been the greatest scientist in human history. His image appears on coins and bank notes, which is appropriate since he was Master of the Mint. Thank you for posting this material, Michael. I learned some things about Mr. Newton that I was not aware of. The "gravity thing" is about all that I knew about him until a few minutes ago! Happy Holidays! Larry |
#3
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Its 9 minutes past midnight on the 25th, so (top posting and all) may I
endorse the general jolly seasonal greetings to all in RCC (yes - ALL) and the best for the new year. And to Michael: every greeting has an equal (and in this case, not opposite) re-greeting. Happy Newtonmas. Jeff (first with a genuine Christmas greeting? Any Kiwis beat me?) ;-) "Michael E. Marotta" wrote in message om... MERRY NEWTONMAS! by Michael E. Marotta (c) 2001 originally posted to RCC 12/25/2000 Sir Isaac Newton was born on Christmas Day in 1642. He may have been the greatest scientist in human history. His image appears on coins and bank notes, which is appropriate since he was Master of the Mint. Alone, any of Newton's achievements would have made his mark in history. Together, they encompass not just what we know about the physical world, but how we know it. Newton is best remembered for his Law of Gravity. He also showed that white light is composed of colors. He built the first reflecting telescope. He demonstrated three fundamental laws of motion. He also invented the calculus. Among his lesser victories, he demonstrated vector arithmetic, he delivered an algorithm for conveniently computing square roots, and he proved the Binomial Theorem. It can be difficult to grasp the magnitude of Newton's work. His Principia Mathematica is the basis for all physical science and engineering. Without this understanding, we would have none of the machinery we take for granted. Civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering, statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, even quantum mechanics and relativity, derive directly his work. For these reasons and more, the English poet, Alexander Pope wrote this epigram: "Nature and Nature's laws lay hid in night: God said, let Newton be! and all was light." Numismatists know a series of tokens from Middlesex, England, struck in 1793, that celebrate Sir Isaac Newton. From 1978 to 1985, the one pound notes of the Bank of England featured Newton on the back, holding a copy of his monumental book, Principia Mathematica, turned to the page that demonstrates the elliptical movement of the planets. The front of the note includes the elements from the token of 1793: the caduceus, an olive branch, and a cornucopia. Michael ANA R-162953 Peace on Earth; Goodwill to All |
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"A.Gent" wrote in message
u... Its 9 minutes past midnight on the 25th, Jeff, quick....tell me what the lottery numbers were in Pennsylvania Wednesday night. I'll split it with you. Merry Christmas -- John Visit the RCCers favorite coins web page http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jcarne...ns/rccers.html |
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Michael-
Recently, a friend told me that Newton was one of the very few brilliant thinkers that was recognized in his own time, having "Sir" bestowed upon him by the queen. He told me Newton kept the discovery of calculus secret until his death, thus allowing him to solve seemingly impossible problems and gaining himself fame and wealth (and probably chicks- an early Beatle). Do you know if that is true? If it is, I admire him even more since he was not merely gifted, but also a wise guy ;-) Mike No Newton Here |
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Newton estimated that 20% of the coins taken in were counterfeit.
Counterfeiting was treason, punishable by death by drawing and quartering. As gruesome as the penalties were, the courts were not arbitrary or capricious. The rights of free men had a long tradition in England and the crown had to prove its case to a jury. The law also allowed for plea bargaining. Convictions of the most flagrant criminals could be maddeningly impossible to achieve. Newton was equal to the task. He assembled facts and proved his theories with the same brilliance in law that he had shown in science. He gathered much of that evidence himself. Disguised, he hung out at bars and taverns. For all the barriers placed to prosecution, and separating the branches of government, English law still had strong, old customs of authority. Newton got himself made a justice of the peace. Between June 1698 and Christmas 1699, he conducted some 200 cross-examinations of witnesses, informers and suspects. He obtained the confessions he needed. While he could not resort to open torture, whatever means he did use must have been fearsome because Newton himself later ordered all records of these interrogations to be destroyed. However he did it, Newton won his convictions. In February 1699, he had ten prisoners waiting to be executed. Newton's greatest triumph as the king's attorney was against William Chaloner. Chaloner was a rogue with a devious intelligence. He set up phony conspiracies of Catholics and then turned in the hapless conspirators whom he entrapped. Chaloner made himself rich enough to posture as a gentleman. Petitioning parliament, Chaloner accused the Mint of providing tools to counterfeiters. (This charge was made also by others.) He proposed that he be allowed to inspect the Mint's processes in order to improve them. He petitioned Parliament to adopt his plans for a coinage that could not be counterfeited. All the time, he struck false coins, or so Newton eventually proved to a court of competent jurisdiction. On March 23, 1699, Chaloner was hanged, drawn, and quartered. ------------------- Michael |
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"A.Gent" wrote:
every greeting has an equal (and in this case, not opposite) re-greeting. In 1720, Newton commended one Mr. Orlebar for the creation of a bimetallic token for the Royal Navy, intended to replace the paper chits that were widely forged. In 1722, King George I granted a patent to William Wood to produce copper coins. We know them as the Rosa Americana and Hibernia issues. Newton defined some of the terms of the contract, assuring safeguards to the crown. He also served as comptroller of Wood's mint in Bristol though he appointed a deputy to carry out the work for him. Newton also filed several reports on the wide values of silver coinage in the American colonies. I do not know of any direct connections between Newton and Oz. Nevertheless, I will think of you as I crack a tube and throw some sheilas on the barbie. Michael "Sundowner" |
#10
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"Michael E. Marotta" wrote:
Newton estimated that 20% of the coins taken in were counterfeit. Counterfeiting was treason, punishable by death by drawing and quartering. As gruesome as the penalties were, the courts were not arbitrary or capricious. The rights of free men had a long tradition in England and the crown had to prove its case to a jury. The law also allowed for plea bargaining. Convictions of the most flagrant criminals could be maddeningly impossible to achieve. Newton was equal to the task. He assembled facts and proved his theories with the same brilliance in law that he had shown in science. He gathered much of that evidence himself. Disguised, he hung out at bars and taverns. For all the barriers placed to prosecution, and separating the branches of government, English law still had strong, old customs of authority. Newton got himself made a justice of the peace. Between June 1698 and Christmas 1699, he conducted some 200 cross-examinations of witnesses, informers and suspects. He obtained the confessions he needed. While he could not resort to open torture, whatever means he did use must have been fearsome because Newton himself later ordered all records of these interrogations to be destroyed. However he did it, Newton won his convictions. In February 1699, he had ten prisoners waiting to be executed. Newton's greatest triumph as the king's attorney was against William Chaloner. Chaloner was a rogue with a devious intelligence. He set up phony conspiracies of Catholics and then turned in the hapless conspirators whom he entrapped. Chaloner made himself rich enough to posture as a gentleman. Petitioning parliament, Chaloner accused the Mint of providing tools to counterfeiters. (This charge was made also by others.) He proposed that he be allowed to inspect the Mint's processes in order to improve them. He petitioned Parliament to adopt his plans for a coinage that could not be counterfeited. All the time, he struck false coins, or so Newton eventually proved to a court of competent jurisdiction. On March 23, 1699, Chaloner was hanged, drawn, and quartered. Awesome stuff, Michael! Any chance that Newton knew the correct useage of 'glom'? ;-) Alan 'imprismed for light' |
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