September 12, 2005
Dear Librarian,
Produced for PBS by the
WGBH Science Unit
125 Western Avenue
Boston
Massachusetts
02134
Telephone 617-300-4340
Fax 617-300-1003
www.pbs.org/nova
Major funding is
provided by Google
Sir Isaac Newton was one of the greatest scientists who ever lived. He invented calculus,
figured out the composition of light, and determined the laws of gravity and motion. His
rules about how objects move were so accurate that—more than 300 years later—they are
still being used to launch rockets and understand space travel.
But research is uncovering a Newton no one ever knew existed. The study of Newton’s
own personal papers, many written in secret code, is bringing to light an intense, private
man for whom religion and science were inseparable. Historians now know that Newton
owned more than 30 Bibles, and that he used alchemy as an avenue to study the nature
of matter. On November 15, tune into NOVA’s “Newton’s Dark Secrets” to discover a
complete picture of this enigmatic man—his science, his personal beliefs, and the times
in which he lived.
With generous support from the National Science Foundation, we’ve produced this
library resource kit to accompany the program. The kit, which has been reviewed by
a national board of public librarians, has been designed for libraries of all sizes and
visitors of all ages. Use the display sheets to illuminate Newton’s work in gravity, light,
and alchemy; conduct the activities to provide children with the sense of wonder Newton
felt about the natural world; and engage visitors with handouts that offer doorways into
Newton’s life and the science that excited him.
We hope you will use this library kit to create science programming that helps your
community gain insight into who Newton really was and how his science changed our
view of the world. We would love to hear how this kit works for you; please send your
comments to [email protected]. Your feedback will help ensure that future
projects like this one are interesting and useful to all librarians.
Paula S. Apsell
NOVA Executive Producer
Credits
The Newton’s Dark Secrets Library
Resource Kit was produced by the
Educational Outreach department of
the WGBH Educational Foundation.
Director, Educational Outreach
Karen Barss
Manager, Educational Content
Sonja Latimore
Editorial Project Director
Karen Hartley
Assistant Editor
Joan Pedersen
Writer
Margy Kuntz
Designers
Peter Lyons
Rusha Sopariwala
Photo Researcher
Debby Paddock
Illustrator
Hannah Bonner
Advisory Board
Frances L. Ashburn
North Carolina Center for the Book
State Library of North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Catherine M. Clancy
Boston Public Library
Honan-Allston Branch
Boston, Massachusetts
Kathleen T. Horning
Cooperative Children’s Book Center
University of Wisconsin
School of Education
Madison, Wisconsin
Sue McCleaf Nespeca
Kid Lit Plus Consulting
Youngstown, Ohio
Deb Robertson
Public Programs Office
American Library Association
Chicago, Illinois
Lisa Sheffield
Transylvania County Library
Brevard, North Carolina
Print Production
Lenore Gibson
Major corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Google.
NOVA is a trademark and service mark of the WGBH
Educational Foundation.
Additional funding is provided by the Howard Hughes Medical
Institute, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and public
television viewers.
Permission is granted for reproduction of this printed
material by schools and librarians for educational use
only. All other rights reserved. Other than as discussed
above, no part of the Newton’s Dark Secrets Library
Resource Kit may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, without the prior written permission of the
WGBH Educational Foundation, 125 Western Avenue,
Boston, MA 02134.
Major funding for “Newton’s Dark Secrets” provided by the
National Science Foundation. This material is based upon
work supported by the National Science Foundation under
Grant No. 9901978. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions
or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the
author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National
Science Foundation.
The NOVA television series is produced by WGBH Boston,
which is solely responsible for its content, and distributed by
the Public Broadcasting Service.
© 2005 WGBH Educational Foundation
All illustrations © 2005 Hannah Bonner
NOVA is closed captioned and described by the Media
Access Group at WGBH for viewers who are deaf, hard
of hearing, blind, or visually impaired. The descriptive
narration is available on the second audio program (SAP)
channel of stereo TVs and VCRs.
AIRING ON PBS NOVEMBER 15, 2005
Using This
Library
Resource Kit
Contents
Welcome to NOVA’s Newton’s Dark
Secrets Library Resource Kit. This kit
accompanies NOVA’s program about
Isaac Newton—his work and his life—
which is scheduled to air November 15,
2005, at 8 pm. (Check local listings as
dates and times may vary.) We hope
you will use this kit to create displays,
conduct science activities, create library
programs, and plan community events
to help engage your audiences in the
excitement of science.
Program Ideas and Tips
Who Was Sir Isaac Newton?
Newton Activities
Use this handout to help your patrons
discover more about the life of Sir
Isaac Newton.
Use the activities with programs you
host at your library or copy them to
distribute to patrons.
• Newton’s Discovery
(ages 4 and older)
• Catch a Rainbow
(ages 5 and older)
• Parachute Play
(ages 6 and older)
• Light’s Mysteries
(ages 8 and older)
• Marble on the Move
(ages 10 and older)
• Who Am I?
(ages 12 and older)
Find ideas to help you incorporate
NOVA’s “Newton’s Dark Secrets” into
your event and program schedule and
tips for how you can work with partner
organizations to interest your audiences
in Newton and other scientists. This
section includes:
• Programs and Events
• Activities Using Library Resources
• Library Display Ideas
• Resources for Programs and Events
Bibliography
Copy Our Handouts!
Please feel free to copy any of the handouts
in this kit. We have designed them to be
reproducible. Find downloadable PDF
color versions of all the pages in this kit at
www.pbs.org/nova/newton/lrk.html
Use the bibliography to create displays
and activities using reference books,
or to help patrons learn more about
Newton. The bibliography includes
resources for:
• Newton’s Life and Works
• Calculus, Physics, and Astronomy
• History of Science and Mathematics
Display Sheets
Use the display sheets to create or
supplement an exhibit on Newton.
• Newton’s Apple
• The Better to See Stars With
• Rainbow of Light
• The Philosopher’s Stone
Science Lesson
www.pbs.org/nova/teachers
Provide local teachers with a classroom
activity that explores alchemy. Find
the activity (available in October 2005)
on the NOVA Teachers site listed in
the section “Teacher’s Guide by
Program Title” under “Newton’s Dark
Secrets.”
.” For grades 6–8 and 9–12.
Available in html and PDF formats.
WWW.PBS.ORG/NOVA/NEWTON
©2005 WGBH Educational Foundation. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction of this printed material for educational use only.
NEWTON’S DARK SECRETS
NEWTON’S DARK SECRETS
1642 Born in Woolsthorpe, England,
on December 25.
1654 Enrolls at King’s School in Grantham,
England, and boards with the town
apothecary, Mr. Clark.
1659 Leaves school and returns to
Woolsthorpe to learn to manage
the family farm.
1661 Enters Trinity College at the
University of Cambridge in England.
1664 Becomes more immersed in the study
of mathematics and optics.
1665 Graduates from Trinity.
1665–67 Plague breaks out in Cambridge.
Newton returns to Woolsthorpe,
where he establishes the fundamentals
of calculus and continues thinking
about gravitation.
1667 Made Fellow of Trinity College.
1668 Builds the first functioning reflecting
telescope.
1669 Becomes the Lucasian Professor of
Mathematics at Cambridge University.
Begins experiments in alchemy.
1672 Elected Fellow of the Royal Society.
Publishes his theory on light and color
in the Royal Society’s journal.
1687 Publishes Philosophiae Naturalis
Principia Mathematica.
1689 Elected as a Member of Parliament for
Cambridge University.
1696 Appointed Warden of the Royal Mint,
and moves to London.
1699 Becomes Master of the Mint.
1701 Resigns as Lucasian Professor.
1703 Elected President of the Royal Society,
a post he holds until his death.
1704 Publishes Opticks.
1705 Knighted by Queen Anne.
1713 Publishes the second edition of the
Principia.
1727 Dies on March 20.
A Note About Dates
At the time Newton lived, the English calender
ran 10–11 days behind the calender used in
most of Europe and elsewhere. This time line
reflects the English calender in use during
Newton’s lifetime.
Tune In
Research is revealing new information
about who Newton really was. Find
out more in NOVA’s “Newton’s Dark
Secrets” program airing on PBS
November 15, 2005. (Check local
listings as dates and times may vary.)
Visit the companion Web site at
www.pbs.org/nova/newton
Who Was Sir Isaac Newton?
Isaac Newton was one of the leading figures
of the scientific revolution in the seventeenth
century. Considered one of the greatest scientists who ever lived, Newton devoted his life
to the study of the natural world, discovering
the laws of gravity and motion, analyzing light,
and developing the mathematics of calculus.
Newton was born prematurely on December 25,
1642, in Woolsthorpe, England, to a poor
farming family. His father had died before his
birth, and he grew up in the care of his mother
and grandmother. At the age of 16, after his stepfather’s death, Newton was taken
out of school to work on the family farm. However, Newton preferred to spend his
time reading. So, at his uncle’s urging, the family sent him back to school.
Newton arrived at Trinity College, University of Cambridge, in 1661. He learned
of the scientific revolution that had been going on in Europe through the work of
Galileo Galilei, Nicolaus Copernicus, Johannes Kepler, and René Descartes. Newton
began to question the environment around him, including the nature of matter, light,
and color. At the same time, to better understand the texts he was reading, Newton
began to study mathematics in earnest, laying the foundation for his later discoveries.
The summer after Newton graduated, in 1665, the plague was spreading in
Cambridge. Newton, who had returned to the family farm for the summer, stayed
there for the next two years. During this time, Newton established the fundamentals
of what is now known as calculus. He also worked on the law of universal gravitation
and began forming his three laws of motion.
After the plague subsided in 1667, Newton returned to Cambridge, where he later
became the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics. Some people believe that in 1669,
Newton began experimenting with alchemy (a medieval philosophy that sought,
among other goals, to transform base metals into silver or gold) with the hopes of
unraveling the nature and structure of all matter.
In 1672, Newton was elected to the Royal Society. His theories on light and color were
published that year in the Royal Society’s journal. After his work criticized because of
possible plagiarism (a claim Newton denied), Newton vowed that he would no longer
publish scientific papers, a vow he kept for many years. Then, in 1687, after spending
more than 20 years developing his ideas, Newton published what is generally acknowledged to be the greatest scientific book ever written, the Philosophiae Naturalis Principia
Mathematica. The book, which described Newton’s theories on celestial motion and
gravity, established his reputation throughout Europe as one of the greatest mathematicians and scientific thinkers of his day. He published his second major work, Opticks,
in 1704.
After dedicating time to public affairs, Newton died in London on March 20,
1727, at the age of 84. He was the first scientist to be honored with a burial in
Westminster Abbey.
WWW.PBS.ORG/NOVA/NEWTON
©2005 WGBH Educational Foundation. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction of this printed material for educational use only.
Newton’s Life
AIRING ON PBS NOVEMBER 15, 2005
AIRING ON PBS NOVEMBER 15, 2005
NEWTON’S DARK SECRETS
Programs and Events
Adults
✷
✷
General Tips
• Contact the educational outreach
person at your local PBS affiliate
to help plan and promote your
events.
• Offer materials on your library
Web site. Link to online
downloadable versions of the
handouts included in this kit.
Augment the resources with a
calendar of events and programs
or related books.
• Create and distribute posters
and fliers announcing your event
or program.
• Send event information to media
outlets, such as newspapers,
science center and club newsletters, and local radio and television
stations. Supply the information
to local community, city, and
school Web sites.
✷
Young Adults
✷
✷
✷
✷
✷
Invite a guest speaker to talk about Newton’s contributions to physics,
astronomy, and/or math. Contact local high schools, colleges, and physics
or astronomy organizations for possible speakers. Distribute copies of the
“Who Was Sir Isaac Newton?” handout.
Host a young astronomers club. Work with local science teachers or astronomy
organizations to host a young astronomers club meeting. Use the “Who Am I?”
activity with participants.
Hold a science essay contest. Pose the question “How has science influenced
your life?” Work with a local science teacher to develop contest guidelines and
judging criteria. Award prizes. Display the essays in the library.
Plan a quiz show. Create a quiz-show format using questions drawn from
books in the bibliography. Invite young adults from science clubs and area
schools. Award prizes.
Conduct a science-based activity session. Use the “Marble on the Move” and
“Who Am I?” activities to spark interest in Newton and present-day scientists.
Create and distribute a bibliography that lists additional activity resources.
Children
✷
✷
✷
✷
Make a rainbow. Do the “Catch a Rainbow” activity with children, which
demonstrates that white light can be separated into its component colors.
Hold a book reading and craft event. After presenting a book on Newton
or an early astronomer such as Edmund Halley, have children create models
of the planets and/or drawings showing how the planets move around the sun.
Organize a book reading or video presentation about a famous scientist.
Present an age-appropriate book or video from the bibliography about Newton
or another scientist.
Conduct a science-based activity session. Use “Newton’s Discovery,” “Parachute
Play,” or “Light’s Mysteries,” to introduce children to some of Newton’s science
concepts. Create and distribute a bibliography that lists additional activity resources.
Recruit high school students or science club members to help conduct the activities.
PROGR AM IDEA S AND TIPS • PAGE 1 OF 4
WWW.PBS.ORG/NOVA/NEWTON
©2005 WGBH Educational Foundation. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction of this printed material for educational use only.
Program
Ideas and
Tips
Invite a guest lecturer to deliver a topical lecture or slide show. Topics to
consider include historical scientists, such as Isaac Newton, Galileo Galilei, and
Johannes Kepler; science in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries; alchemy
and allegory; everyday physics; and the impact of religion on scientific research
and inventions. Contact a local college or university science, mathematics, or
history department for presenters.
Show videos about famous scientists and/or mathematicians. Present
“Newton’s Dark Secrets” or another video about a notable scientist or
mathematician, and have a facilitator lead a related discussion after watching.
(Make sure that videos are cleared for public performance rights.)
Offer a short class or workshop. Work with a representative from a local
amateur astronomy club or a college or university astronomy department
to host a class or workshop about planetary motion.
AIRING ON PBS NOVEMBER 15, 2005
NEWTON’S DARK SECRETS
Activities Using Library Resources
These activities are designed to encourage the use of library resources.
Adults
✷
✷
✷
Original documents. Plan a discussion around original scientific documents
and where patrons might locate these materials. Share the resources that your
library has to help find these materials.
Rare book room tour. If your library has a rare book or manuscript room
that contains mathematical or scientific texts, arrange a guided tour for patrons.
Bookmarks. Print bookmarks with resources for historical scientists or science
themes related to Newton’s discoveries. Tailor the bookmarks for different
age levels.
Contest Incentives
Think about offering incentives
for contests and other events.
Some incentives might be tickets
to a local museum or science center,
books or videos on Newton or
related topics, math games or
manipulatives, construction toys,
or science project supplies. Contact
local retailers—such as hobby and
craft stores, toy stores, and bookstores—for possible donations.
✷
✷
✷
Science trivia night. Plan a night that focuses on a particular scientist’s work
or science subject. Invite a guest who is knowledgeable about that science topic
to host the event, and recruit one or two young adults to assist.
Scientific discovery time line. Provide teens with a list of scientific discoveries
and ask them to use library resources to find who made each discovery and when
each was made. Distribute the “Who Was Sir Isaac Newton?” handout and have
teens compare their time lines to the dates when Newton made his discoveries.
Recommended resources lists. Have young adults create lists of recommended
resources about Newton and related topics for their peers. Display the lists
during a presentation or event related to Newton.
Call numbers or keywords list. Prepare a list of call numbers or keyword search
terms related to Newton, other scientists and mathematicians, alchemy, calculus,
the history of science, physics, optics, astronomy, or other related topics. Then
ask young adults to research the scientists listed on the “Who Am I?” activity
and correctly name the mystery scientists featured on the handout.
Children
✷
✷
✷
✷
Science word hunt. Give children a list of science terms commonly used in
physics, optics, and/or astronomy. Ask them to use library resources to determine
the meaning of each term.
Resource posters or bookmarks. Have children help you create posters or
bookmarks that can be used to identify the location of resources in the children’s
area related to Newton, physics, and math.
“Who Am I?” game. List three scientists, including Newton, at the top of a
sheet of paper. Then list five or six facts about each scientist elsewhere on the page.
Have children use library resources to match the facts with the correct scientist.
Science question contest. Have children use library resources to answer a set of
developmentally appropriate science questions. Work with a local science teacher
or school librarian to develop questions that can tie into school science curriculum.
PROGR AM IDEA S AND TIPS • PAGE 2 OF 4
WWW.PBS.ORG/NOVA/NEWTON
©2005 WGBH Educational Foundation. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction of this printed material for educational use only.
Young Adults
✷
AIRING ON PBS NOVEMBER 15, 2005
NEWTON’S DARK SECRETS
Library Display Ideas
Newton
✷
✷
Newton books and videos. Display one or more pictures of Newton along with
a time line, selected books and videos (see bibliography for suggestions), and one
or more of the activity handouts.
Newton’s discoveries. Highlight books and videos about some of Newton’s famous
discoveries, along with posters illustrating his laws of motion. Have one or more
of the activity handouts available for distribution.
Calculus, Physics, and Astronomy
✷
Display Tips
• When creating display titles, use
a few short words in large type size
and alliterative phrases to grab
patrons’ attention (i.e., “Newton’s
Notable Achievements” or “Marvelous Mathematicians”).
• Use fabric instead of paper for
bulletin board backgrounds—it
lasts longer and is easy to reuse.
• Place one or more small boxes
or stands on a table to create risers.
Then cover tables with cloth or
plastic tablecloths. Highlight one
book or display item on each riser
to create an appealing table display.
• To create a poster-size picture for
display, photocopy a copyright-free
image onto a transparency, then use
an overhead projector to magnify it
onto a large piece of paper taped to
a wall. Trace the outline of the
image and then color it in to make
the poster.
✷
✷
✷
Science activities. Showcase one of the science activities from the activity
handouts. Have the chosen handout available for distribution.
Light and color. Create a table display that provides illustrations or samples
of prisms, lenses, color filters, and the electromagnetic spectrum. Have copies
of the “Light’s Mysteries” activity handout available for distribution.
Orbits of the planets. If possible, display an orrery (a mechanical model of the solar
system) or diagrams of early devices that model the relative positions and motions
of the planets alongside selected books and videos about astronomy.
The physics of sports, amusement parks, and/or space flight. Highlight
applications of physics by displaying photographs, posters, and models of real-world
items, along with selected books and videos (see the bibliography for suggestions).
Have copies of the “Marble on the Move” activity handout available for distribution.
School science fair projects. Display selected science fair projects created by local
students. Contact science curriculum coordinators in local school systems for referrals.
Also contact local homeschool groups regarding science project development.
History of Science
✷
✷
✷
Famous scientists and mathematicians. Select titles and resources based on a
theme, such as women scientists, famous European scientists, or mathematicians who
contributed to the field of calculus (see bibliography for suggestions). Display drawings
or photographs of the highlighted people. Consider featuring scientists who are known
in your city, region, or state.
Historical science and mathematical documents. Profile several key historical
scientific or mathematical books, such as Newton’s Principia, Euclid’s Elements,
and Kepler’s New Astronomy.
Evolution of scientific thought. Display books and videos that highlight the
evolution of key ideas in science.
Alchemy
✷
Alchemists’ laboratories. Create a display highlighting the type of instruments
commonly used in alchemy. Include enlarged illustrations of early equipment
along with modern-day beakers, mortars and pestles, and crucibles. Contact
local science and/or history museums for possible display items.
Use copies of the bibliography,
activities, and display sheets
provided in this kit to enhance
your displays.
PROGR AM IDEA S AND TIPS • PAGE 3 OF 4
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©2005 WGBH Educational Foundation. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction of this printed material for educational use only.
✷
AIRING ON PBS NOVEMBER 15, 2005
NEWTON’S DARK SECRETS
Resources for Programs and Events
The following is a listing of selected Web resources to help you locate experts,
partners, target audiences, and materials for your events, programs, and activities.
You can find these links online at www.pbs.org/nova/newton/lrk.html
Schools, Colleges, and Universities
American Association of Community Colleges
www.aacc.nche.edu
Furnishes state-by-state listings of local community colleges (choose “Community
College Finder” at the top of the page). Contact information and links to college
home pages supplied. Most linked sites include listings for academic
departments
and faculty.
✷ U.S. Universities by State
www.utexas.edu/world/univ/state
Provides listing of colleges and universities by state with links to home pages
of each institution. Most organizations have department listings or public affairs
offices that can connect you with experts in a field of interest.
✷ Yahoo! Directory: K–12 Schools
dir.yahoo.com/Education/K_12/Schools
Provides a listing of elementary, middle, and high schools with links to each
school’s home page. Regional listings provide state breakdowns by cities or
counties. Many linked sites have staff listings. (Not all schools are listed.)
✷
www.pbs.org/stationfinder/
index.html
Type in your Zip code or choose
your state to find a listing of local
stations and a link for contact
information.
Museums, Science Centers, and Planetaria
✷
✷
✷
The Virtual Library: Museums in the USA
www.museumca.org/usa/index.html
Lists more than 100 U.S. museums and science centers by name, state, and/or type,
and provides direct links to museum home pages. Allows searches by keyword.
Smithsonian Institute
www.si.edu
Provides background information and resources on historical events and discoveries,
art and culture, and famous mathematicians and inventors. Provides lesson plans
and a media catalog.
The Astronomical Society of the Pacific: Planetaria
www.astrosociety.org/resources/linkplanetaria.html
Furnishes links to planetarium and observatory home pages by state.
PROGR AM IDEA S AND TIPS • PAGE 4 OF 4
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©2005 WGBH Educational Foundation. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction of this printed material for educational use only.
PBS Local Station Finder
AIRING ON PBS NOVEMBER 15, 2005
NEWTON’S DARK SECRETS
Newton’s Life and Works
Bibliography
This bibliography contains resources
about Newton; calculus, physics, and
astronomy; and the history of science
and mathematics.
Isaac Newton
by James Gleick.
Pantheon Books, 2003.
Looks at Newton’s significant letters and
unpublished notebooks to illuminate the
importance of his work in physics, optics,
and calculus. a
Isaac Newton
by Paul Mason.
Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 2001.
Explains Newton’s contributions to
science and how the bubonic plague and
political and religious changes affected both
Newton and society. Illustrated with maps,
diagrams, photographs, and reproductions
of paintings. Includes primary-source
quotes. c
Isaac Newton and Gravity
by Steve Parker.
Chelsea House, 1995.
Relates Newton’s accomplishments as well
as interesting vignettes of his life. Includes
illustrations of his experiments. c
Isaac Newton: Discovering Laws
That Govern the Universe
by Michael White.
Blackbirch Press, 1999.
Presents a biography of Newton with
illustrations, boxed quotes, and a time line
of important events. cYa
Key:
Isaac Newton: The Greatest Scientist
of All Time
by Margaret J. Anderson.
Enslow, 1996.
Provides a biography of Newton’s life. c
Isaac Newton: Organizing
the Universe
by William J. Boerst.
Morgan Reynolds, 2004.
Describes Newton’s life and explores his
accomplishments in relation to historical
events within the scientific community.
Includes reproductions of period paintings,
drawings, and documents. cYa
Isaac Newton: Reluctant Genius
by D.C. Ipsen.
Enslow, 1985.
Provides a look at Newton and some
of his discoveries, including the theory of
gravity, the secrets of light and color, and
the system of calculus. Ya
Isaac Newton and the Scientific
Revolution
by Gale E. Christianson.
Oxford University Press, 1996.
Relates a biography of Newton as
both a great scientist and a man with
all-too-human faults. Explores his
rivalries, working style, and his interest
in alchemy. Ya
Let Newton Be!
by John Fauvel, ed.
Oxford University Press, 1988.
Explores the diverse facets of Newton’s life
from mathematics to theology, mechanics
to music, and optics to alchemy. a
The Life of Isaac Newton
by Richard S. Westfall.
Cambridge University Press, 1993.
Examines Newton’s personal life and
scientific career. a
c=Children
Ya=Young Adult
a=Adult
BIBLIOGR APHY • PAGE 1 OF 4
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©2005 WGBH Educational Foundation. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction of this printed material for educational use only.
Books
In the Presence of the Creator:
Isaac Newton and His Times
by Gale E. Christianson.
Free Press, 1984.
Examines the scientist’s reclusive
personality, recreates the turbulent
intellectual atmosphere of seventeenthcentury Europe, and details Newton’s
discoveries in physics, optics, and
astronomy. a
NEWTON’S DARK SECRETS
AIRING ON PBS NOVEMBER 15, 2005
Newton’s Life and Works (cont.)
On the Shoulders of Giants:
The Great Works of Physics
and Astronomy
by Stephen W. Hawking, ed.
Running Press, 2002.
Places selections from Newton’s Principia
in the context of selected writings of
Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, and Einstein.
Includes biographies of each scientist. a
Opticks: Or, a Treatise of the
Reflections, Refractions, Inflections
and Colours of Light
by Isaac Newton.
Dover, 1952.
Describes Newton’s own experiments
with spectroscopy, color, lenses, reflection,
refraction, and more in easy-to-understand
language. Based on the Fourth Edition
(London, 1730). Includes a foreword
by Albert Einstein. a
The Principia: Mathematical
Principles of Natural Philosophy
by Isaac Newton.
University of California Press, 1999.
Presents, in Newton’s own mathematical
terms, the principles of time, force, and
motion that have helped to guide the
development of modern physical science.
Corrects errors and modernizes language
of earlier translations. a
Videos & DVDs
Biography: Sir Isaac Newton
A&E Home Video, 1998.
Profiles Newton as one of the
greatest minds in history. Yaa
Newton’s Dark Secrets
WGBH, 2005.
Examines Newton’s life and work,
and chronicles his interest in alchemy
and religion. Yaa
Web Sites
NOVA—Newton’s Dark Secrets
www.pbs.org/nova/newton
Find articles, interviews, interactive
activities, and resources in this companion
Web site to the program. cYaa
Footprints of the Lion
www.lib.cam.ac.uk/exhibitions/
Footprints_of_the_Lion
Presents a broad view of Newton’s
life through a collection of original
documents held by the Cambridge
University Library. Examines the
expanse of Newton’s work and the
extensive thought behind it. a
The Newton Project
www.newtonproject.ic.ac.uk
Features a high-quality electronic
facsimile of Newton’s papers, consisting
of digital images alongside text-encoded
transcriptions. Yaa
Sir Isaac Newton
www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/
Mathematicians/Newton.html
Provides a comprehensive time line of
Newton’s life and accomplishments. a
Key:
c=Children
Ya=Young Adult
a=Adult
BIBLIOGR APHY • PAGE 2 OF 4
WWW.PBS.ORG/NOVA/NEWTON
©2005 WGBH Educational Foundation. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction of this printed material for educational use only.
Books
Newton’s Gift: How Sir Isaac Newton
Unlocked the System of the World
by David Berlinski.
Free Press, 2000.
Follows Newton’s life from childhood
through adulthood, outlining his many
advances in scientific and mathematical
thought. Yaa
AIRING ON PBS NOVEMBER 15, 2005
NEWTON’S DARK SECRETS
Calculus, Physics, and
Astronomy
Books
Calculus for the Utterly Confused
by Robert Oman.
McGraw-Hill, 1999.
Explains and applies calculus concepts to
such fields as business, medicine, physics,
and health. a
Videos & DVDs
Life by the Numbers
Monterey Video, 1998.
Offers seven one-hour programs that
explain the role of mathematics in real
life, such as in sports, technology, and
space exploration. CYa
The Handy Physics Answer Book
by P. Erik Gundersen.
Visible Ink Press, 1999.
Contains more than 800 questions
and answers on a number of topics. cYa
Roller Coaster
WGBH Educational Foundation,
1993.
Explores the science of roller coasters.
Nightwatch: A Practical Guide
to Viewing the Universe
by Terence Dickinson.
Firefly Books, 1998.
Provides an introductory how-to
for nighttime viewing. Yaa
The Rainbow Mystery
by Jennifer Dussling.
Kane Press, 2002.
Presents a story that explains the colors
of a rainbow. c
Six Easy Pieces: Essentials of
Physics Explained by Its Most
Brilliant Teacher
by Richard P. Feynman.
Addison-Wesley, 1995.
Discusses gravity in a simplified manner.
YaA
Key:
c=Children
Ya=Young Adult
a=Adult
BIBLIOGR APHY • PAGE 3 OF 4
Waves: Principles of Light,
Electricity, and Magnetism
by Paul Fleisher.
Lerner Publications, 2002.
Offers an overview of light, electricity,
and magnetism within a historical context.
Web Sites
Amusement Park Physics:
Roller Coaster
www.learner.org/exhibits/
parkphysics/coaster.html
Allows users to design and test-drive
their own online roller coasters. YaA
Astronomy Picture of the Day
antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/
astropix.html
Provides a daily image or photograph
of the universe. CYaA
Fear of Physics
www.fearofphysics.com
Illustrates the laws of physics behind
sports and everyday activities. Includes
homework help and a physics dictionary.
Ya
Visual Calculus
archives.math.utk.edu/visual.calculus
Features a collection of modules that can
be used to study or teach calculus. Various
plug-ins are needed to view some of the
pages. YaA
CYa
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©2005 WGBH Educational Foundation. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction of this printed material for educational use only.
The Kingfisher Young People’s
Book of Space
by Martin Redfern.
Kingfisher, 1998.
Introduces topics such as the Big Bang
and life in the universe. c
CYaA
AIRING ON PBS NOVEMBER 15, 2005
NEWTON’S DARK SECRETS
History of Science and
Mathematics
Everything’s Relative: And Other
Fables from Science and Technology
by Tony Rothman.
Wiley, 2003.
Chronicles milestones in the history
of science, emphasizing omissions and
inaccuracies in long-accepted accounts
of invention and discovery. YaA
Eyes on the Universe
by George Reed.
Marshall Cavendish, 2001.
Summarizes the history of astronomy.
CYa
Lost Discoveries: The Ancient
Roots of Modern Science—From
the Babylonians to the Maya
by Dick Teresi.
Simon and Schuster, 2002.
Examines scientific advances made by
early non-Western societies and looks
at the impact of the advances on
Western science. YaA
Key:
c=Children
Ya=Young Adult
a=Adult
BIBLIOGR APHY • PAGE 4 OF 4
Math and Mathematicians:
The History of Math Discoveries
Around the World
by Leonard C. Bruno.
UXL, 2003.
Compiles biographies of mathematicians
throughout history and provides articles
describing math concepts and principles.
Ya
Science in Ancient Greece
by Kathlyn Gay.
Franklin Watts, 1998.
Discusses theories and discoveries of
ancient Greek philosophers and scientists,
and the impact of their discoveries on
modern science. Provides an experiment
for readers to conduct at home. CYa
Science in Early Islamic Culture
by George Beshore.
Franklin Watts, 1998.
Outlines the scientific discoveries of
the Islamic world after the birth of
Mohammed in A.D. 571, and discusses
the impact of the discoveries on Western
civilization. CYa
Videos & DVDs
Galileo’s Battle for the Heavens
WGBH, 2002.
Examines Galileo’s astronomical
discoveries, shares his correspondence with
his daughter, and explores his clash with
the Catholic Church. YaA
Infinite Secrets
WGBH, 2003.
Profiles Archimedes’ life and work,
and the science involved in the restoration
of the Palimpsest. YaA
Web Sites
MacTutor History of Math Archive
www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/
history/index.html
Includes numerous biographies of notable
mathematicians, searchable by name,
location, time, or subject. YaA
Windows to the Universe:
History and People
www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/
people/people.html
Provides information about ancient
and modern philosophers, astronomers,
and scientists. CYaA
WWW.PBS.ORG/NOVA/NEWTON
©2005 WGBH Educational Foundation. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction of this printed material for educational use only.
Books
The Crest of the Peacock: The NonEuropean Roots of Mathematics
by George Gheverghese Joseph.
Princeton University Press, 2000.
Focuses on non-European mathematics—
the influence of the Egyptians and
Babylonians on the Greeks; the major
creative contributions of the Arab
people; and the mathematics of India
and China. A
AIRING ON PBS NOVEMBER 15, 2005
NEWTON’S DARK SECRETS
Newton’s Discovery
For ages 4 and older.
Color Code
Sir Isaac Newton wondered what made
objects fall to Earth. As the story goes,
he was sitting under a certain kind of
tree when the answer came to him:
It was gravity that caused things to fall
to Earth, the same force that keeps
planets in orbit. What was it that fell
from the tree that might have helped
Newton think about gravity? Uncover
the answer by using the color code to
color the picture below.
N
e
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o
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n
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NEWTON ACTIVITIES
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NeN
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black
brown
blue
green
red
white (leave blank)
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w
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©2005 WGBH Educational Foundation. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction of this printed material for educational use only.
w
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AIRING ON PBS NOVEMBER 15, 2005
NEWTON’S DARK SECRETS
Catch a Rainbow
For ages 5 and older.
What to do
Learning More
Have you ever seen a rainbow in the
sky? Rainbows happen when sunlight
passes through raindrops in the sky.
When this happens, light becomes
separated into a rainbow of colors—
red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo
(blue-violet), and violet. In this activity,
you can make your own rainbow.
1. Set the jar on a windowsill or a
table in front of the window.
2. Look for the jar’s shadow in front
of the jar.
3. Place the sheet of paper where you
see color.
4. Watch the rainbow appear on
the paper.
5. On another sheet of paper, draw a
rainbow that has red, orange, yellow,
green, blue, indigo (blue-violet), and
violet. Label each band by the first
letter of its color.
6. You can learn the colors of the
rainbow by remembering the
name ROY G BIV! Some people
remember the colors by the phrase
“Richard Of York Gave Battle In
Vain.” Can you think of a phrase
to help you remember the colors
of the rainbow?
Bubbles, Rainbows and Worms:
Science Experiments for Preschool
Children
by Sam Ed Brown.
Gryphon House, 2004.
Includes experiments about plants, the
environment, air, water, and the senses.
• clear glass jar 3/4 filled with water
• a sunny day and a windowsill that
receives direct sunlight
• sheets of white paper
• red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo
(blue-violet), and violet crayons
Try This! Indoor Rainbow
www.nationalgeographic.com/ngkids/
trythis/try6.html
Details how to make a rainbow without
the sun.
Newton and Light
Newton experimented with how
colors of light pass through glass.
He used a prism to learn that
white light was actually made up
of multiple colors. He did this by
first using a prism to break light up
into its component colors and then
he used another prism to return all
of those colors to white light.
NEWTON ACTIVITIES
WWW.PBS.ORG/NOVA/NEWTON
©2005 WGBH Educational Foundation. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction of this printed material for educational use only.
You will need
What Makes a Rainbow?
by Betty Ann Schwartz.
Piggy Toes Press, 2000.
Explains what makes a rainbow, and pops
up a different-colored ribbon on each page.
AIRING ON PBS NOVEMBER 15, 2005
NEWTON’S DARK SECRETS
Parachute Play
For ages 6 and older.
What to do
Learning More
If something falls or is dropped, it heads
toward Earth. But why? Isaac Newton
(1642–1727) thought about why objects
on Earth drop down when they fall.
Gravity is a force that causes objects to
fall toward the ground. Newton studied
and learned a lot about gravity. In this
activity, you will investigate whether
your parachute will overcome gravity.
1. Write your initials on the bottom
of your cup. Place the plastic sheet
flat on a table. Tape a piece of string
to each corner of the sheet.
2. Tape the string ends to the rim of
the cup. Make sure the string pieces
are an equal distance apart from
each other.
3. You made a parachute! Pick it up
by pinching the top center of the
plastic. Hold your parachute as high
above your head as you can, and
drop your parachute in front of you.
Watch it. Does it go up or down?
4. Now it is time to experiment.
What happens if the parachute is
dropped from a greater height? Ask
a grown-up to drop the parachute
for you. Does it go up or down?
Why do you think you got the
results you did?
Janice VanCleave’s Gravity
by Janice Pratt VanCleave.
Wiley, 1993.
Features 20 simple experiments and
projects that allow children to explore
the concept of gravity.
• 5-by-5-inch plastic sheet (cut from
a small plastic bag)
• 4 pieces of thin string, each 6 inches
long
• small paper cup (not wax coated)
• masking tape
• pencil or crayon
Aviation and Space Education
Outreach Program
www.faa.gov/education/curric/
prekite.cfm
Describes an activity that demonstrates
how a kite flies.
Newton and Gravity
Many years ago, people didn’t
understand why things fell
downward and why the planets
orbited the sun. Newton helped
people understand that gravity is
the force that holds us on Earth,
causes objects to fall toward Earth,
holds the moon in its orbit around
Earth, and holds the planets in their
orbits around the sun. Though it is
a weak force (otherwise we would
be sucked into Earth), it has played
a big role in shaping the universe.
NEWTON ACTIVITIES
WWW.PBS.ORG/NOVA/NEWTON
©2005 WGBH Educational Foundation. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction of this printed material for educational use only.
You will need
On a Flying Guitar
(sound recording)
by Steve Roslonek.
SteveSongs, 2000.
Includes a song on gravity.
AIRING ON PBS NOVEMBER 15, 2005
NEWTON’S DARK SECRETS
Light’s Mysteries
Have you ever noticed the colors of the
rainbow or the colors that sometimes
appear on the wall when light passes
through a glass of water? In 1666, Sir
Isaac Newton (1642–1727) conducted a
series of experiments that showed that
“white” light is actually a combination
of colors mixed together. In 1704,
Newton published his findings in a
book titled Opticks.
You will need
• flashlight
• red, green, and blue transparent
cellophane
• scissors
• sheet of white paper
What to do
1. Cut the cellophane into pieces large
enough to be wrapped around the
flashlight lens.
2. Darken the room but not so much
that you cannot see the different
colors of the light filters
(the cellophane).
NEWTON ACTIVITIES
3. Turn on the flashlight and shine
it on the paper. Note the color of
the light.
4. Place a colored filter over the
flashlight lens. Make sure the filter
is placed flat (no bunches) over
the lens. Hold the flashlight about
2 inches from the paper. What color
do you see? How does it compare
to the color of the cellophane?
5. Experiment with different-colored
filters. Take notes about the
different things you try. What
happens to the color of the light
when only one filter is used? Next,
try holding two different filters over
the lens. What happens? Try
different color combinations.
6. Make a prediction. What do you
think will happen to the color of the
light if you place a red, green, and
blue filter over the lens at the same
time? What color is the light on the
paper? Try placing the filters over the
lens in a different order. Does the
order change the color of the light
in any way? Record and compare
your results. Why do you think you
got the color you did?
Learning More
Science for Fun: Light and Color
by Gary Gibson.
Copper Beech, 1995.
Includes simple experiments relating
to the basic principles of light and lenses.
Science, Optics and You
micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/
index.html
Provides background information,
hands-on activities, and interactive
simulations regarding several aspects
of optics and light.
The Colors of White Light
Light is a form of energy. What we
see as colors are actually different
wavelengths of light. For example,
light with a long wavelength
appears red, while light with a short
wavelength appears violet. White
light contains all the different
wavelengths of visible light.
WWW.PBS.ORG/NOVA/NEWTON
©2005 WGBH Educational Foundation. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction of this printed material for educational use only.
For ages 8 and older.
AIRING ON PBS NOVEMBER 15, 2005
NEWTON’S DARK SECRETS
Marble on the Move
For ages 10 and older.
What to do
Learning More
Sir Isaac Newton studied other
scientists’ ideas and thought a lot about
how things on Earth and in the universe
move. After a great deal of work, he
developed three important laws that
explain how and why things move as
they do. His three laws of motion are:
1. An object at rest will stay at rest,
and a moving object will keep
moving in a straight line with
constant speed until a force acts on
the object.
2. An object accelerates (speeds up)
because a force acts upon it.
3. For every action there is an equal
and opposite reaction.
1. Work with a partner. Label each
of your index cards with a different
law of motion.
2. Work together to make a maze by
taping the rectangles to the inside
base of the box (all walls should be
1 inch high). Make the tape the
same length as the long side of the
rectangle. Place the tape on a long
side of the rectangle so half the tape
sticks to the rectangle and half does
not. Tape the rectangle to the inside
base of the box so that it stands up.
Secure the rectangle by taping its
opposite side to the base.
3. Continue taping rectangles to the
base to complete the maze. Leave
spaces so a marble can travel from
one end to the other.
4. Conduct the following three steps
with the marble:
• Place the marble in the maze so
that it is still. How can you make
the marble move? How can you
make the marble move faster?
What is the force responsible for
making the marble move?
• Place the marble at rest. Why does
the marble stay still? Tilt the box
and observe. What causes the
marble to move? What causes the
marble to stop or slow down?
• Place one marble in the maze.
Roll another marble into it. What
happens to the two marbles?
Where does the energy of the first
marble get transferred?
5. After you have done these three
tasks, look at your index cards that
contain Newton’s laws of motion.
Match each law to a different step
you performed. Explain your choices.
Isaac Newton: The Greatest
Scientist of All Time
by Margaret J. Anderson.
Enslow, 1996.
Presents the life and work of Isaac Newton
as well as hands-on experiments related
to Newton’s theories of motion and
gravitation.
You will need
• cardboard box (flat lid of a shoebox
is best)
• 4 of each of the following sized
rectangles (made from oak tag, index
cards, or manila folders) 1 by 2 inch,
1 by 3 inch, and 1 by 5 inch
• masking tape
• 2 small marbles
• pencil
• 3 index cards
ZOOM’s 3 Puck Chuck
pbskids.org/zoom/games/3puckchuck
Features a game in which players must
account for Newton’s laws of motion as
they adjust the speed, direction, and
physical properties of a virtual puck.
Newton’s Laws of Motion
Sir Isaac Newton was born in 1642.
He studied at the University of
Cambridge in England. Many
scientists of his time wanted to
know more about motion on Earth
and the motions of the planets.
Newton was the first to understand
both of these. His three laws of
motion have helped scientists
understand orbits and develop
rockets and spacecrafts.
Answer: The first step demonstrates Newton’s
second law of motion, the second step shows his first
law of motion, and the third step illustrates his third
law of motion.
NEWTON ACTIVITIES
WWW.PBS.ORG/NOVA/NEWTON
©2005 WGBH Educational Foundation. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction of this printed material for educational use only.
In this activity, you will make a maze
and use a marble to investigate these
laws.
Janice VanCleave’s Physics for Every
Kid: 101 Easy Experiments in Motion,
Heat, Light, Machines, and Sound
by Janice Pratt VanCleave.
Wiley, 1991.
Provides a number of easy-to-do
experiments and activities that illustrate
physics principles.
AIRING ON PBS NOVEMBER 15, 2005
NEWTON’S DARK SECRETS
Who Am I?
For ages 12 and older.
NEWTON ACTIVITIES
NASA Quest’s Biography
and Journal Locator
questdb.arc.nasa.gov/bio_search.htm
Choose job titles or occupations from a list
and search for biographies and journals
of current NASA employees.
Vocational Information Center
www.khake.com/index.html
Includes information such as daily
activities, skill requirements, and salary
and training required for a variety of
science and engineering jobs.
Scientist 3: ____________
Born in The Bronx, New York, in 1959,
this scientist’s current work focuses
primarily on dwarf galaxies and the
bulge at the center of the Milky Way.
This scientist’s sixth-grade homeroom
teacher wrote of him: “Less social
involvement and more academic
diligence is in order.” In 1996, he
became the youngest-ever director
of the world-class Hayden Planetarium
in New York City. What inspired this
scientist when he was a young boy that
caused him to want to pursue a space
science career?
WWW.PBS.ORG/NOVA/NEWTON
©2005 WGBH Educational Foundation. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction of this printed material for educational use only.
This astrophysicist was born on January
8, 1942, in Oxford, England. He likes
to think big. He works as a cosmologist,
a person who studies the origin, present
state, and future of the universe. One of
his greatest contributions has been in
the understanding of black holes, which
are objects that have such a strong
gravitational pull that not even light
can escape from them. But even famous
scientists sometimes make mistakes.
What famous error did this scientist
declare in 2004?
145 Things to Be When
You Grow Up
by Jodi Weiss and Russell Kahn.
Random House, 2004.
Profiles 145 professions and offers information on high school activities, college
majors, and work experience that will
help students achieve their career goals.
Scientist 1: Stephen Hawking (1942–)
He conceded his original thinking about black holes was
wrong—that information about matter swallowed up in
a black hole isn’t really lost after all.
Scientist 1:____________
Born in France and raised in Germany
and California, this scientist already had
a successful career in journalism when
she returned to school to earn a Ph.D.
in physics. She helped develop satellites
such as the X-ray Multi-Mirror Satellite
observatory, known as the XMMNewton. She has written more than
100 scientific papers. She is currently
chancellor of the University of
California at Riverside. She was the
youngest person—and first woman—
to hold a prestigious NASA position.
What was the position?
Scientist 2: France Anne Cordova (1947–)
She served as NASA Chief Scientist from 1993–1996.
Jocelyn Bell Burnell
France Anne Cordova
Alan Guth
Stephen Hawking
Roscoe L. Koontz
Vera Cooper Rubin
Jill Tarter
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Scientist 2: ____________
Career Ideas for Kids Who
Like Science
by Diane Lindsey Reeves.
Facts on File, 1998.
Describes 15 science careers and provides
advice on choosing a career direction.
Scientist 3: Neil deGrasse Tyson (1959–)
He looked up at the moon through a pair of binoculars.
Newton has often been called the father
of physics because his fundamental
investigations into motion and gravity
became the foundation of our
knowledge of the physical world.
Today’s physicists are much more likely
to specialize in a main area of interest.
Match three of the present-day
scientists below to their descriptions,
and then see if you can answer the
question about each scientist.
Learning More
NEWTON’S DARK SECRETS
AIRING ON PBS NOVEMBER 15, 2005
Newton’s
apple
Newton realized that gravity is the invisible
force that causes things to fall to the ground
and keeps objects held to Earth. He also
realized that gravity is what keeps the universe
held together. He described this force in one
simple equation that he called the universal
law of gravitation.
WWW.PBS.ORG/NOVA/NEWTON
©2005 WGBH Educational Foundation. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction of this printed material for educational use only.
Did a falling apple really inspire Isaac
Newton to develop his law of gravitation?
Probably not, although some scholars
do believe that a falling apple may have
encouraged Newton to think about why
objects close to Earth fall toward Earth.
NEWTON’S DARK SECRETS
AIRING ON PBS NOVEMBER 15, 2005
The
Better to See
Stars With
WWW.PBS.ORG/NOVA/NEWTON
©2005 WGBH Educational Foundation. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction of this printed material for educational use only.
The earliest telescopes—called refracting telescopes—consisted
of glass lenses mounted in a tube. But when light from objects
was viewed through these telescopes, a fuzzy spectrum of colors
appeared around the edges of the images. To solve this problem,
Newton designed a telescope that used mirrors rather than lenses.
In his reflecting telescope, one mirror focuses the light onto a
second smaller mirror, which in turn, focuses the light to a point
on an eyepiece. Most of today’s large telescopes work on the same
principle as Newton’s first design.
AIRING ON PBS NOVEMBER 15, 2005
NEWTON’S DARK SECRETS
Rainbow
of Light
WWW.PBS.ORG/NOVA/NEWTON
©2005 WGBH Educational Foundation. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction of this printed material for educational use only.
Isaac Newton wanted to understand light. He used
a prism to determine that white light is actually
made up of different colors—or wavelengths—of
light. When white light enters a prism, its different
wavelengths are separated and show up as a band
of colors. The longest wavelengths occur on the
red end of the spectrum; the shortest reside on
the opposite end where the violet color appears.
AIRING ON PBS NOVEMBER 15, 2005
NEWTON’S DARK SECRETS
The
Philosopher’s
Stone
WWW.PBS.ORG/NOVA/NEWTON
©2005 WGBH Educational Foundation. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction of this printed material for educational use only.
The Philosopher’s Stone was a mythical substance believed to cure
disease, confer immortality, and turn ordinary metals like lead into
gold. Finding the stone was one of the ambitions of alchemy, an
ancient mystical chemical philosophy. Some people believe that
Newton pursued alchemy with the hopes that it might help him
better understand great truths about nature and the universe.