— Overview
The notes stay with one documentary’s view of Newton: not only the laws, but alchemy, a two-year leave, and twenty-two problems solved at home.
— Contents and key concepts
A yeoman’s son, and three kinds of work
The notes stay with the documentary Newton’s Dark Secrets. They describe Newton as a posthumous son in a yeoman family, who preferred inventing mechanical models, running experiments, and solving problems to farm work, and whose mother allowed him to go to university. As a student, they write, he was already able to complete major work in calculus and in a system of mechanics.
They group his achievements in three: a mechanics that takes up Galileo’s kinematics and Kepler’s three laws; the infinitesimal analysis later called calculus; and the law of universal gravitation, with Newton’s three laws of motion.
An apple tale that may have come later, and a turn to alchemy
Many people, the notes say, know Newton from the familiar tale of an apple falling from a tree, a story even elementary textbooks tell. The documentary startles the writer by suggesting that this tale was probably invented later, by people who wanted a story to support a theory he had already formed.
The film also treats subjects less often attached to him, including his interest in alchemy, and goes deeply into his interest in religion.
A two-year leave, and twenty-two problems at home
When an epidemic spread through the university, they write, he took a two-year leave and, in his hometown, solved twenty-two problems and made many discoveries. Scholars who appear in the documentary emphasize that, when a problem arose, he kept researching until he found a solution. The writer comes away thinking that, to accomplish something, one has to throw oneself into it at a nearly fanatical level — provided, they add, that genius and native talent are also there. The notes do not name a director or a year of release.
The same Korean report, at fuller length, is on CampusDown.
Sources
- The notes, a student viewing of the documentary Newton’s Dark Secrets: mechanics after Galileo and Kepler, infinitesimal analysis, the apple story as a possible later invention, alchemy and religion, a two-year leave during an epidemic, and twenty-two problems solved at home.
Last updated: 15 November 2026
Frequently asked questions
How do the notes introduce Newton’s work?
The notes are a student critique of the documentary Newton’s Dark Secrets. They describe Newton as a posthumous son in a yeoman family, who preferred inventing mechanical models, running experiments, and solving problems to farm work, and whose mother allowed him to go to university. As a student, they write, he was already able to complete major work in calculus and in a system of mechanics. They group his achievements in three: a mechanics that takes up Galileo’s kinematics and Kepler’s three laws; the infinitesimal analysis later called calculus; and the law of universal gravitation, with Newton’s three laws of motion.
What does the documentary do with the apple story, and what else does it treat?
Many people, the notes say, know Newton from the familiar tale of an apple falling from a tree, a story even elementary textbooks tell. The documentary startles the writer by suggesting that this tale was probably invented later, by people who wanted a story to support a theory he had already formed. The film also treats subjects less often attached to him, including his interest in alchemy, and goes deeply into his interest in religion.
What do the notes record about a leave from university, and what lesson does the writer take?
When an epidemic spread through the university, they write, he took a two-year leave and, in his hometown, solved twenty-two problems and made many discoveries. Scholars who appear in the documentary emphasize that, when a problem arose, he kept researching until he found a solution. The writer comes away thinking that, to accomplish something, one has to throw oneself into it at a nearly fanatical level — provided, they add, that genius and native talent are also there. The notes do not name a director or a year of release.
Refund policy
- Change of mind / refund requested after partial use / more than 7 days after purchase
◆ Exceptions
- File errors / cannot download or open the file
◆ How to request a refund: send a 1:1 inquiry via Customer Service at the top