Sir Isaac Newton

Newton, Sir Isaac 1642-1727.   English mathematician and scientist who invented differential calculus and formulated the theory of universal gravitation, a theory about the nature of light, and three laws of motion. His treatise on gravitation, presented in Principia Mathematica (1687), was supposedly inspired by the sight of a falling apple. New·to'ni·an adj.

Main Entry: new·ton
Pronunciation: 'n(y)üt-^&n
Function: noun
: the unit of force in the metric system equal to the force requiredto impart an acceleration of one meter per second per second to a mass of one kilogram
Newton, Sir Isaac (1642–1727), British physicist and mathematician. One of thegreatest figures in the history of science, Newton made great fundamental discoveries in mathematics and physical science including the method of fluxions (now known as differential calculus); lawsconcerning the composition of white light and the transmission of light through various media, upon which he built the foundation for the science of optics; and the law of gravitation. The newton unitof force was named in his honor in 1904.

newton new·ton (n&oomacr;t'n, ny&oomacr;t'n)
n.
Abbr. N
In the meter-kilogram-second system, the unit of force required to accelerate a mass of one kilogram one meter per second per second, equal to 100,000 dynes.