English scientist Robert Hooke was one of the greatest minds of the seventeenth century.He has worked on a variety of hypotheses and instruments, improved the structure of the microscope and the first to set a particular cellular tissue.
Childhood great scientist
future physicist, botanist, inventor and astronomer, was born on July 18, 1635 in the town of Freshwater, which is located on the Isle of Wight.His father was the rector of the church of All Saints.Close long feared for the health of the baby, because he was very weak and tscheduschnym but Robert survived.In 1648, after the death of his father, Robert Hooke moved to London and became a student of the artist by the name of Peter Lely.Already a well-known scientist, he disapproved recalled his childhood, but the skill of the illustrations that accompanied the physicist their works, lets say that the time in a studio was not lost in vain.At fourteen, the boy became a pupil Bashbi Westminster School, from which graduated in 1653-m.As any scientist Robert Hooke learned Latin, which was the main language of scientific communication at the time.In addition, he owned a Hebrew and Greek, he knew how to play the organ and instantly learn complex textbooks.
Start research activities
After school, Robert Hooke moved to Oxford to become a student at Christ Church College.In addition, he was a chorister in the church, as well as an assistant and close collaborator of Boyle.In those same years, was an acquaintance with the participants of "Invisible College" of Oxford, the creators of the scientific and organizational society that played a significant role in the life of Hooke.During this period, a physicist invented the air pump, created a treatise on the motion of the fluid in the capillaries.In addition, Robert Hooke, the discovery of which helped to create a spring mechanism for pocket watches, had a small dispute with Huygens, who also worked with such devices.In 1662 the scientist was awarded the degree of Master of Arts, Oxford University, the Royal Society, at that time only to form, appointed him curator of experiments.In 1663-m Robert Hooke created a charter for this academic community, was passed in the number of its members, and in 1677, he became its secretary.
London professor
Even a brief biography of Robert Hooke would be complete without mention of the fact that in 1664, when the plague was raging in England, physicist left London.Shortly before he was appointed professor Greshemovskogo college and lived in an apartment in his building.Additionally, Hooke did not stop the activities of the curator of experiments of the Royal Society.It was a difficult position for which was not supposed to reward.For not too secured scientist preparing new experiments it was associated with significant costs.Nevertheless, this work helped his personal research and established the authority of the distinguished physicist honorary consultant.In addition, the breadth of interests of Robert impressed the other members of the community.Information about Robert Hooke in the "History of the Royal Society" talks about his work as a curator and describes his amazing experiment with vacuum artillery gunpowder, thermal expansion of the glass, as well as work to establish a microscope, iris and all kinds of meteorological instruments.
Create "Micrographia»
In 1665 saw the release of th most important work of a scientist.The treatise entitled "micrograph" details the methods of using the microscope for a variety of scientific research.It describes the various experiments with sixty parts of plants, insects and animals.The discovery of the cellular structure of organisms did exactly Robert Hooke.Biology was not his main scientific interest, so that the results of research is even more surprising.In addition, the material on
fossils makes Hooke also the founder of paleontology.Excellent quality illustrations and engravings made "micrographics" invaluable book.Despite the fact that the scientist is almost forgotten for the moment, his breakthrough in the study of cells is of great importance.To know about this discovery is really worth.
Opening cells
Superior microscope Robert Hooke was the subject of constant interest of scientists.He considered using a variety of subjects.One day, as an object for study he got bottle cork.Made with a sharp knife cut a scientist he struck his complex and the correct structure.Cells formed the tube material, reminded Hooke honeycomb.Since the cut was of plant origin, further investigations were carried out on the stems and branches of other plants.In thin section of elder Robert saw again the cellular surface.These cells are separated from each other by partitions superfine were named physicist cells.He studied their size and the impact of their presence on the property consisting of these materials.Thus began the history of the study of plant cells.Further work on them has been transferred to another member of the Royal Society, Nehemiah Grew, who was more passionate about biology than Robert Hooke.History of the discovery of cells has been developed thanks to his efforts.Assiduous and attentive, he devoted his life to the study of plants and largely influenced the further course of the science in this area.Its main treatise on the subject was "Anatomy of plants to set out the philosophical history of flora and several other papers read before the Royal Society."In the meantime, the physicist Robert Hooke had already adopted for other experiments.
Further activities
Robert Hooke, whose biography has enriched the publication "Micrographia" did not stop there.He developed the theory of light, gravity, and the structure of matter, invented computer for complex arithmetic operations and perfected a device that allows to study the Earth's magnetic field.In some of his views of scientists he was too harsh.
For example, in 1674 he had a dispute with Hevelius associated with the peculiarities of the use of microscopes.In the second half of the 1670's it was written papers on the theory of elasticity, which have become a breeding ground for the well-known Hooke's law.It states that the increase in length relative to the initial elongation proportional causing a force inversely proportional to the size and cross section of the object associated with the material from which one is made.
Community Newton
In 1672-m Isaac Newton became a member of the Royal Society, which has long consisted of Robert Hooke.History of the discovery of cells and other experiments have strengthened its credibility in the eyes of physics, but his association with Newton was tense for years.Their scientific debate concerned how particular issues, such as the figure of the curve that describes the falling body, and fundamental concepts, including the nature of light.Newton thought that light consists of a stream of special particles, which he called light corpuscles.Robert Hooke, whose biography at the time included work on the wave nature of light, suggested that it consists of a vibrating movement of the transparent medium.So there was a discussion between the corpuscular and wave theory.The controversy was so intense that Newton decided not to write about the optics to death Hooke.
Plagiarism or simultaneous opening?
In 1686 Hooke between Newton and broke another debate, this time related to the law of universal gravitation.Probably Guk yourself came to understand proportional relationship between the force of gravity and the square of the distance between the bodies, which allowed him to accuse the author of the "Elements" of plagiarism.On this subject, physicist was written a letter to the Royal Society.Nevertheless, Newton described in more detail this issue, correctly identified and formulated the law of interaction of the most important laws of mechanics.On this basis, he explained the movement of the planets, the ebb and flow, has made many other important discoveries.Hooke also was too overworked to do it carefully in this sphere.However, it should be noted his deep interest in the problem of gravity and a series of experiments dedicated to her, which was held from 1671 year.
Sunset activities
In recent years, the life of Robert Hooke, whose biography is full of the most important discoveries in many areas, was as active as ever.He studied arrangement of muscles, trying to create the mechanical model, received a doctorate in medicine, interested in amber, lectured, including on the causes of earthquakes.Thus, the sphere of interest of scientists over the years, only to expand, and thus at the same time growing and the load.After a terrible fire had destroyed much of London.Restoration of the city led by Christopher Wren, the eminent English architect and close friend of Hooke.Helping him Hooke worked hard for four years, a striking manner with attention and research activities, and leaving only a couple of hours of sleep and rest.
contribution to the reconstruction of London
Robert Hooke had the demanding role.However, it is Christopher Wren replanned the area around the London Stock Exchange.With the assistance of Hugh May and Roger Pratt he made a notable contribution to the architecture of London.Among other things, Hooke and Wren was created by the project of the monument to victims of the terrible fire.It was developed a thorough project and in 1677 the world saw an impressive Doric column, the creation of which has been used in Portland stone.The top of it was crowned with a gilded ball with tongues of fire.Initially, Christopher Wren wanted to portray it Charles II, to which he replied that the participation in the event of fire did not take.The height of the monument is 61 meters and 57 centimeters, as much from the beginning of the column to the place of fire.Hooke intended to use the monument as a scientific laboratory for zenith telescope and work with the pendulum, but the vibrations caused by traffic, prevented such work.
The death of
Work on the restoration of London's improved financial position of the scientist, but a negative impact on health.Heavy Duty Day said disease and a strong deterioration of vision.The latest invention of the great scientist has become a barometer of the sea.About him the Royal Society became aware in February 1701 from the mouth of Edmond Halley, who was a close friend of Hooke.A physicist, biologist and naturalist Robert Hooke died on 3 March 1703 in his apartment at Greshemovskom college.One of the most gifted people of those times, he was undeservedly forgotten with the course of years.
reasons oblivion
Proceedings Hooke on the themes of the nature of light and the laws of gravity were the basis of the work of Isaac Newton, but serious differences of two scientists have worsened their relationship.It began a kind of confrontation.Because of his "Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy" Newton removed all references to Hooke's works.In addition, he tried to downplay his contribution to science.As president of the Royal Society, Newton stopped using many tools Hooke, he created manually consigned to oblivion of his work and put his portrait.Thank talented physicists faded.However, it is written about him the famous words of Newton.In one of his letters he says that he saw more just because I stood on the shoulders of giants.Indeed, Robert Hooke deserves this name, because he was a great scientist, inventor, naturalist, astronomer and architect of his time.
Interesting facts about the scientist
doctors and relatives Hooke feared that he would die in infancy.Some claimed that he would not live up to twenty years.Nevertheless, the physicist had lived 68 years, which by the standards of the seventeenth century can be called a very long time.The name "cell", which he offered for elementary units of a living organism, due to the fact that Hooke these particles resembled monks' cells.One of the experiments associated with the breath, nearly ended in tears for pundit.He put himself in a special sealed unit from which air is pumped out, and as a result lost some hearing.Apart from the monument, built in collaboration with Wren, Hooke project were created by such buildings as the Observatory at Greenwich and St. Paul's Cathedral.See the works of the great physicist can now.
