Where is the 400-year-old tree from which the apple fell on the great Newton’s head, and what does it look like now?
The English scientist Isaac Newton is undoubtedly one of the most significant figures in the history of mathematics. He is best known for his law of universal gravitation. There is a funny story about an apple falling on a scientist’s head while sitting under a tree at his Woolsthorpe Manor estate. Many people don’t realize this historical tree still exists, even though centuries have passed!
Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton, the future light of world science, was born on December 25, 1642, in Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth, Lincolnshire. The boy showed outstanding mathematical and natural sciences abilities very early on. The young polymath attended the Royal School, where many complex subjects were taught. After graduating, he enrolled at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he immersed himself in the fascinating study of philosophy and mathematics.
After receiving his education, Isaac Newton worked with the German mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz on the discovery of differential and integral calculus. This was a real revolution in the scientific world during the Age of Enlightenment. But that wasn’t all. During his 84 years on this Earth, the scientist made more than one mega-important discovery.
Newton formulated the laws of gravity and the motion of bodies. His 1867 work, Beginnings: Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, documented these discoveries. In addition, an outstanding scientist invented a reflecting telescope that uses curved mirrors to reflect light and create images and proposed a new theory of light and color.
Did an apple fall on Isaac Newton’s head?
Legend states that Isaac Newton discovered gravity after an apple fell on his head. Historians are still debating whether this event took place. Isaac Newton himself told the story as a funny anecdote. He shared this story with John Conduit, Catherine Barton, and the French philosopher Voltaire.
William Stukeley, who wrote a biography of the famous scientist, “Memoirs of the Life of Sir Isaac Newton,” described this in his book. He said he was visiting a renowned scientist, and they had tea in the garden. Suddenly, Newton said that they were now sitting under the very tree from which the apple had fallen on his head, after which he had an epiphany.
Today, it is impossible to verify the authenticity of this story. This could happen, but not exactly how it’s being told now because the story has been embellished over time. Visit. A F R I N I K .C O M .For the full article. All the contemporaries, like the hero of this fascinating story, have long been dead, and therefore, it is impossible to confirm or refute it.
The tree under which Isaac Newton discovered gravity still exists
Despite such detailed information about where this glorious event occurred, there is no 100% certainty about which tree Isaac Newton was sitting under. Most historians believe this tree is in the Newton family garden and dates back more than four centuries. It grew from the root of an apple tree that was broken during a severe hurricane in 1816.
The variety of this apple tree is called the “Kent Flower”; it is grown to this day. Gardeners are tending the Newton tree at Woolsthorpe Manor. After all, this is a local landmark. To protect the apple tree, it was surrounded by a fence to protect such an essential part of the story from damage.
Newton’s apple trees are all over the world
Of course, the fact that the tree still exists is incredible in itself. Even more impressive is that he has clones all over the world. The most famous of them is the tree growing at Trinity College. It was planted from the cuttings of the same apple tree from Isaac Newton’s orchard. In the same way, the legendary tree was grown on the territory of York University. There are offspring of Newton’s apple tree in many famous educational institutions worldwide.
