Galileo Galilei

STARRY-EYED scientist Galileo Galilei

The sky was the limit for this multi-talented astronomer, inventor, mathematician, and physicist whose ideas have stood the test of time.

Galileo taught Mathematics at the University of Padua, Italy.

Distant dream

Born in 1564 near Pisa, Italy, Galileo Galilei studied MATHEMATICS before becoming a professor in 1589. He made many discoveries and designs throughout his life. When Galileo learned of an invention called a telescope in 1609, he decided to create his own version.

Who came before…

An inspiration for Galileo,

Greek scientist Archimedes was among the first to claim that Earth orbits the Sun. He also used mathematics rather than logic to solve problems. By the way… I was the first person to use a telescope to look at the Solar System and record my observations.

Persian philosopher and scientist AvicennA was the first to record that moving objects can be slowed down by external factors.

Originally intended to WATCH ENEMY SHIPS AT SEA, Galileo’s telescope made objects appear so much larger that he turned his eyes to the skies. This longdistance visual aid revealed mountains and valleys on the Moon, spots on the Sun, and moons orbiting the planet Jupiter.

Central Sun

Up until the 16th century, most people believed

Earth was the fixed centre of the Universe, orbited by the Sun and planets. Galileo witnessed the planets Mercury and Venus CIRCLING THE

SUN, and put forward the controversial idea that Earth also orbits the Sun. This supported

Nicolaus Copernicus’s view of the Universe, but went against beliefs of the time. The Church put Galileo under house arrest.

The planets revolve around the Sun as Copernicus claimed.

Physics in Pisa

Galileo carried out many experiments in Pisa. According to some accounts, he threw two cannonballs of different weights from the Leaning Tower to show that falling objects of different weights land at the SAME TIME. This proved that heavy and light objects fall at the same speed, assisted by gravity.

By combining logic with his experiments and observations, Galileo established new laws of physics and changed the way people viewed the Solar System.

How he changed the world

Who came after…

In 1687, English scientist

Isaac NewtoN published his book Principia, which developed Galileo’s theory that different objects fall at the same speed. When American astronaut

Dave scott dropped a hammer and a feather on the Moon in 1971, they landed at the same time, proving that all objects fall at the same speed even on the lunar surface.