VOA慢速英语:Isaac Newton: One of the World’s Greatest Scientists

短语讲解：

1. Much of today's science of physics is based on Newton's discovery of the three laws of motion and his theory of gravity.

be based on根据，以…为基础
例句：Action should be based on solid facts.
行动应有确凿的事实为依据。

2. As a boy, for example, he decided to find a way to measure the speed of the wind.

for example例如, 譬如
例句：I know many women who have a career and a family—Kehr for example.
我知道有许多妇女能事业家庭兼顾——凯尔就是其中之一。

3. He spent his time solving mathematical problems, instead of taking care of the crops.

instead of代替，而不是
例句：Taking exercise every day makes him look younger instead of older.
每天锻炼身体使他看起来年轻而不显老。
take care of照顾
例句：They appointed her to take care of that old man.
他们委派她照顾那位老人。

4. To escape the disease, Newton returned to the family farm. He did more thinking than farming.

return to返回到…
例句：News of the astronauts' safe return to earth was delayed.
宇航员安全返回地球的消息被推迟。

5. Newton's work led him to create a new method in mathematics for measuring areas curved in shape.

lead to把…带到, 领到
例句：The bell-boy led us to our rooms.
旅馆服务员把我们带到了我们的房间。

6. He decided that the strength of the force keeping a planet in orbit around the sun depended on two things.

depend on取决于
例句：Whether the game will be played depends on the weather.
比赛是否举行要看天气而定。

7. The result was the strength of the gravity force that tied them to each other.

tie to用绳子把…拴于…, 使被…束缚; 使被困于…
例句：The weather tied him to the house.
天气将他困在家里, 不能出去。

8. He sent a beam of sunlight through the prism.

a beam of 一束
例句：A beam of yellow light seemed to welcome them to the fur-trading post. 
一束黄色的灯光似乎在欢迎他们光临这个皮毛货栈。 

9. Light reflected from the surface of the mirror, instead of passing through a curved glass lens.

pass through经过, 通过
例句：A diameter passes through the center of a circle.
直径从圆心穿过。

10. The question was this: What is the path of a planet going around the sun?

go around绕着走；绕…运行
例句：The earth goes round the sun.
地球绕着太阳运行。

11. And one that is moving continues to move at an unchanging speed, so long as no outside force influences it.

so long as只要
例句：You will do all right so long as you follow my advice.
只要你听我的建议, 你一定会做好的。