Galileo’s KaleidoscopeGalileo’s Kaleidoscope

By Gloria Jean PilgrimBy Gloria Jean Pilgrim

Dacusville Elementary SchoolDacusville Elementary School

April 5, 2002April 5, 2002

Galileo’s LifeGalileo’s Life

Galileo has been Galileo has been called the father called the father of modern of modern science.science.

He was a writer, He was a writer, an astronomer, an astronomer, and a physics.and a physics.

He made a major He made a major impact on science.impact on science.

BirthBirth

Was born in Pisa, Was born in Pisa, Italy in 1564Italy in 1564

Born to Vincenzio Born to Vincenzio Galilei (a teacher Galilei (a teacher and a composure of and a composure of music) and Guilia music) and Guilia AmmannatiAmmannati

He had 6 brothers He had 6 brothers and sisters.and sisters.

Early Life:Early Life:

Made toys at a very early ageMade toys at a very early age Father wanted him to be a doctorFather wanted him to be a doctor Attended Vallembrosa at 10 years oldAttended Vallembrosa at 10 years old Made very good gradesMade very good grades Became an accomplished musicianBecame an accomplished musician Excelled in painting and student of poetryExcelled in painting and student of poetry

Education and Education and ProfessionsProfessions Studied medicine at University of Studied medicine at University of

Pisa at age of 17.Pisa at age of 17. Taught math at University of Pisa.Taught math at University of Pisa. Appointed Professor of Math at Appointed Professor of Math at

University of Padua.University of Padua. Mathematician and Natural Mathematician and Natural

Philosopher to grand Duke of Philosopher to grand Duke of Tuscany.Tuscany.

Adult LifeAdult Life

Had 3 illegitimate children.Had 3 illegitimate children. Their mother wasTheir mother was aa Venetian peasant.Venetian peasant. She later married a respectable man of She later married a respectable man of

her class.her class. Galileo took care of the children.Galileo took care of the children. Two daughters were put into a convent.Two daughters were put into a convent. Eldest daughter became a highly Eldest daughter became a highly

accomplished and intelligent woman. accomplished and intelligent woman. Youngest daughter was invalid.Youngest daughter was invalid. Son was a careless spendthrift.Son was a careless spendthrift.

AccomplishmentsAccomplishments

Invented, improved or embellished the Invented, improved or embellished the thermometer, barometer, the pendulum, thermometer, barometer, the pendulum, hydraulic and military machines, the hydraulic and military machines, the magnet, the compass, and the microscope.magnet, the compass, and the microscope.

First Astronomer to use the telescope for First Astronomer to use the telescope for examining heavenly bodies. examining heavenly bodies.

Discovered the satellites of Jupiter.Discovered the satellites of Jupiter. Discovered the rings of Saturn.Discovered the rings of Saturn. Discovered the phases of Venus.Discovered the phases of Venus. Discovered the Moon librations.Discovered the Moon librations.

Galileo’s Major Galileo’s Major ContributionContribution Development of Development of

the scientific the scientific methodmethodWithout it none of the Without it none of the scientific wonders of scientific wonders of the modern age could the modern age could have been achieved. have been achieved. The main stages of The main stages of the scientific method the scientific method was observation and was observation and experimentation. experimentation.

DeathDeath

Totally Blind Totally Blind Died at Age 74Died at Age 74 Year of 1683Year of 1683 Even thought a very famous person, Even thought a very famous person,

buried in secrecy and silence, his buried in secrecy and silence, his friends bore him to a distant chapel.friends bore him to a distant chapel.

His name seldom mentioned and his His name seldom mentioned and his works forbidden to be read. WHY?works forbidden to be read. WHY?

BibliographyBibliography

Presentation developed as part of the Adventure of the American Mind Presentation developed as part of the Adventure of the American Mind project funded through the Library of Congress. Original documents project funded through the Library of Congress. Original documents come from the American Memory collection of the Library of come from the American Memory collection of the Library of Congress.Congress.

Galileo and the Papal Infallibility, Harper’s New Galileo and the Papal Infallibility, Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, Cornell University Making of Monthly Magazine, Cornell University Making of AmericaAmerica

Galileo and His Daughter, by J.B., Sharpe’s London Galileo and His Daughter, by J.B., Sharpe’s London Magazine, Cornell University Making of AmericaMagazine, Cornell University Making of America

Private Life of Galileo, Correspondence of this Private Life of Galileo, Correspondence of this eldest Daughter, by Nichols and Noyes, Reviews eldest Daughter, by Nichols and Noyes, Reviews and Literary Noticesand Literary Notices