In 1667, he
explained the scintillation of the stars by irregular atmospheric
refractions. He formulated the theory that light is composed of
pulses. Hooke's Law states that the amount an elastic body bends
or stretches out of shape is in direct proportion to the force
acting on it. He invented the odometer, a wheel to measure
distances. He constructed an arithmetical machine. He invented the
universal joint, which can move in many angles. At his death,
Hooke had thousands of pounds stored in an iron chest.
Wallis wrote a treatise on algebra which was historical as well as
practical. In 1668, he postulated the correct theory of impacts of
inelastic bodies, based on the principle of conservation of
momentum. During this time, he also deciphered enemy messages for
royalty and was made a royal chaplain.
Royal astronomer and genius Edmond Halley, the son of a soap
maker, studied tides, magnetism, and the paths of comets and
stars. He went on voyages to study the heavens from different
positions, thereby laying the foundations of physical geography.
He showed that the stars change in position in relation to each
other. With Newton's help, he calculated the orbit of a comet he
saw in 1682 to be elliptical rather than parabolic and then proved
it was the same comet that had appeared in 1531 and 1607,
indicating it's regularity; it was then named "Halley's comet".
However, the Church of England still embraced the idea that comets
and eclipses were evidence of God's wrath.
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