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Newtons Opticks with colour Spectrum
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Newtons Opticks with colour Spectrum
Opticks by the English physicist and mathematician Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727), published in 1704 with a colour spectrum produced by a prism projected across the title page. This work was based on Newtons own experimental investigations into the behaviour of light. In Opticks he discussed topics such as the refraction of light by prisms and the rings of coloured light formed between a lens and a mirror in contact with each other (later termed Newtons rings). In Isaac Newtons time, it was believed that white light was colourless, and that the prism itself produced the colour. Newtons experiments convinced him that all the colours already existed in the light in a heterogeneous fashion, and that " corpuscles" (particles) of light were fanned out because particles with different colours travelled with different speeds through the prism
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Colour Colourless Corpuscles Experiment Focus Glass Huygens Isaac Newton Lens Light Optics Particles Physicist Prism Projection Theory Wave Wavelength White Light Young Fresnel Opticks Visible Spectrum
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This print showcases the title page of "Newton's Opticks" with a mesmerizing display of the color spectrum produced by a prism. Published in 1704, this groundbreaking work by Sir Isaac Newton revolutionized our understanding of light and optics. Drawing from his own experimental investigations, Newton delved into various topics within "Opticks" including the refraction of light through prisms and the formation of colored rings between lenses and mirrors (later known as Newton's rings). At that time, it was widely believed that white light had no color, attributing any colors observed to be solely produced by the prism itself. However, Newton's meticulous experiments led him to a different conclusion. Through his research, he discovered that all colors already existed within white light in a heterogeneous manner. He proposed that particles or "corpuscles" of light were dispersed because each color traveled at different speeds through the prism due to their varying wavelengths. This image not only captures an iconic moment in scientific history but also serves as a reminder of how one individual's curiosity and dedication can reshape our understanding of the world around us. It is a testament to Newton's brilliance as both physicist and mathematician, forever immortalized in this timeless masterpiece called "Opticks. "
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