Newton's Apple
Encyclopedia
Newton's Apple is an education
al television program
distributed to PBS
stations in the United States
that ran for fifteen seasons from 1983 to 1998. Targeted at younger viewers, it was highly regarded. The title harkens to the apocryphal tale of Isaac Newton
sitting under a tree
and an apple
falling near him—or, more popularly, on his head—prompting him to ponder what makes things fall, leading to the development of his theory of gravitation
(an event often loosely described as him "discovering" gravity). The show was produced by Twin Cities Public Television
(tpt). For most of the run, the show's theme song was Ruckzuck by Kraftwerk
, later remixed by Absolute Music. Later episodes of the show featured an original song.
National Public Radio science correspondent Ira Flatow
was the show's first host, later succeeded by David Heil, then assistant director of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
(OMSI). Peggy Knapp was a longtime field reporter and served as co-host in the 14th season. The last season was hosted by the team of David Heil, Dave Huddleston, Eileen Galindo, Brian Hackney and SuChin Pak
, now a frequent host and pop culture reporter for MTV
. An occasional short feature appeared called "Science of the Rich and Famous" in which celebrities appeared to explain a science principle; as examples, rock star Ted Nugent
explained guitar feedback, Olympic Gold Medalist skater Scott Hamilton
demonstrated the angular momentum of a skater's spin, and Betty White
showed how cats purr.
"Newton's Apple" won numerous national awards including the A.A.A.S. Science Journalism Award, the Parent's Choice Award, and in 1989, the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Children's Series. James W. Head III was biology consultant for the series.
A segment in the early years was entitled "Newton's Lemons" which used 1950s era newsreels of a then-futuristic device that had long since been forgotten.
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
al television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
distributed to PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
stations in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that ran for fifteen seasons from 1983 to 1998. Targeted at younger viewers, it was highly regarded. The title harkens to the apocryphal tale of Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton PRS was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian, who has been "considered by many to be the greatest and most influential scientist who ever lived."...
sitting under a tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
and an apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
falling near him—or, more popularly, on his head—prompting him to ponder what makes things fall, leading to the development of his theory of gravitation
Gravitation
Gravitation, or gravity, is a natural phenomenon by which physical bodies attract with a force proportional to their mass. Gravitation is most familiar as the agent that gives weight to objects with mass and causes them to fall to the ground when dropped...
(an event often loosely described as him "discovering" gravity). The show was produced by Twin Cities Public Television
Twin Cities Public Television
Twin Cities Public Television is a non-profit organization based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States, that operates the Twin Cities' two Public Broadcasting Service member Public television stations, KTCA-TV and KTCI-TV...
(tpt). For most of the run, the show's theme song was Ruckzuck by Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
, later remixed by Absolute Music. Later episodes of the show featured an original song.
National Public Radio science correspondent Ira Flatow
Ira Flatow
Ira Flatow is a radio and television journalist and author who hosts National Public Radio's popular Science Friday. He is probably best known on TV for hosting Newton's Apple, a television science program for children and their families.-Biography:...
was the show's first host, later succeeded by David Heil, then assistant director of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is a museum located in Portland, Oregon, United States. It contains two auditoriums, including an IMAX Dome theatre, and a variety of hands-on permanent exhibits focused on natural sciences, industry, and technology...
(OMSI). Peggy Knapp was a longtime field reporter and served as co-host in the 14th season. The last season was hosted by the team of David Heil, Dave Huddleston, Eileen Galindo, Brian Hackney and SuChin Pak
SuChin Pak
SuChin Pak is a South Korean-born American television news correspondent, frequently appearing on the cable networks of MTV.SuChin Pak joined the MTV News Team as a correspondent in May 2001. She has covered the MTV Movie Awards, the Sundance Film Festival, and the MTV Video Music Awards. She...
, now a frequent host and pop culture reporter for MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. An occasional short feature appeared called "Science of the Rich and Famous" in which celebrities appeared to explain a science principle; as examples, rock star Ted Nugent
Ted Nugent
Theodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent is an American guitarist, musician, singer, author, reserve police officer, and activist. From Detroit, Michigan, he originally gained fame as the lead guitarist of The Amboy Dukes, before embarking on a lengthy solo career...
explained guitar feedback, Olympic Gold Medalist skater Scott Hamilton
Scott Hamilton (figure skater)
Scott Scovell Hamilton is an American figure skater and Olympic gold medalist. He won four consecutive U.S. championships , four consecutive World Championships and a gold medal in the 1984 Olympics....
demonstrated the angular momentum of a skater's spin, and Betty White
Betty White
Betty White Ludden , better known as Betty White, is an American actress, comedienne, singer, author, and former game show personality. With a career spanning seven decades since 1939, she is best known to modern audiences for her television roles as Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and...
showed how cats purr.
"Newton's Apple" won numerous national awards including the A.A.A.S. Science Journalism Award, the Parent's Choice Award, and in 1989, the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Children's Series. James W. Head III was biology consultant for the series.
A segment in the early years was entitled "Newton's Lemons" which used 1950s era newsreels of a then-futuristic device that had long since been forgotten.
Funding
- DupontDupont-Companies:*E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , one of the world's largest chemical companies*Du Pont Motors*Gilbert Dupont, a French stock brokerage part of retail banking network Crédit du Nord...
(1983-1999) - 3M3M3M Company , formerly known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation based in Maplewood, Minnesota, United States....
(1983-1999) - Public Television Stations/Viewers Like You (1983-1990/1999)