Galileo Galilei

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Galileo Galilei

• The Life and Works of
• By Katrina Anderson

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LIFE AND FAMILY

• Born in Pisa, Italy, February 15, 1564
• Died near Florence, Italy, January 8, 1642.
  Eventually, buried at the Basilica of Santa Croce
• Father Vincenzio, mother Guilia
• Eldest of seven children
• 1591, father, Vincenzio, died
• Late 1590s met Marina Gamba, had three children
  - Virginia, Livia and Vincenzio
• 1617 Daughters enter convent, become Sister Maria
  Celeste and Sister Arcangela
• 1619 Marina died, 1620 Guilia died
• April 2, 1634, Maria Celeste died

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EDUCATION

• Vincenzio taught Galileo
• Grammar school at Florence
• Camaldolese monastery at Vollombroso
• Private tutoring
• University of Pisa

• Studied mathematics and philosophy
• Never obtained a degree
• Private study of mathematics with tutors in
  Florence and Siena

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CAREER
Published Books

• La Balancitta (The Little Balance)
• Starry Messenger
• Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems
  Ptolemaic and Copernican
• Two New Sciences

• 1586, Taught at Vallombrosa
• 1589, Chair of Mathematics at University of Pisa
• 1592, professor of mathematics at University of
  Padua
• Chief Mathematician, University of Pisa
• Mathematician and Philosopher to Grand Duke of
  Tuscany

Important Papers
De Motu (On Motion) Bodies that Stay Atop Water
or Move Within It Letter on the Solar Spots
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MATHEMATICAL WORK

• Early orientation purely mathematical
• Methodology of Euclid and Archimedes
• Study of geometry theorems on the center of
  gravity of solids
• Hydrostatic balance - Table of specific gravities
  
• Applied mathematics to Dantes Hell
• Extended principle of lever to hydrostatics and
  simple machines
• Military and geometrical compass (sector)
• Combined experimental method with mathematical
  reasoning

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INVENTIONS
Telescope or Perspicillum
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Pendulum or clock
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Sector
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ASTRONOMICAL and SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES

• Milky Way
• Jupiter and moons
• Moons irregular surface
• Sun-centered galaxy and sunspots
• Saturns appendages
• Phases of Venus
• Observational, Experimental, Measurement method
• Physics and Mechanics - planetary and
  interplanetary motion

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Dialogue

• Literary style
• Discussion between friends presented
  observational proof of heliocentric view of
  galaxy
• Salviati-Copernican Theory, Sagredo-common sense
  mediator, Simplicio-Aristotlian (some thought
  satirical impressionism of Pope)

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PROBLEMS WITH THE CHURCH

• Order of 1616 Copernican ban
• Discussed publication with Pope
• Title, introduction, conclusion and some passages
  modified for approval
• Published with authority from Florence Inquisitor
  
• Pope and Inquisition call for trial
• Galileo found guilty of heresy and imprisoned for
  life

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Resources

• Bernardini, G. (2001). Galileos Influence in
  Modern Society. Swisher, C. (Ed.), Galileo (pp.
  189-200). San Diego Greenhaven Press.
• Einstein, A. (2001). Galileos Heroic Fight for
  a New Scientific System. Swisher, C. (Ed.),
  Galileo (pp.181-189). San Diego Greenhaven
  Press.
• Hoskin, M. (1997). From Geometry to Physics
  Astronomy Transformed. Hoskin, M. (Ed.),
  Cambridge Illustrated History of Astronomy
  (pp.122-134). Cambridge, England Cambridge
  University Press
• Kesten, H. (2001). On Trial for Heresy.
  Swisher, C. (Ed.), Galileo (pp.120-131). San
  Diego Greenhaven Press.
• Paul II, Pope J. (2001). The Church Acknowledges
  Injustice Done to Galileo. Swisher, C. (Ed.),
  Galileo (pp.200-206). San Diego Greenhaven
  Press.
• Shea, W.R. (2001). A Passion for Mathematics.
  Swisher, C. (Ed.), Galileo (pp.53-63). San
  Diego Greenhaven Press.
• Swisher, C. (2001). Galileo Galilei A Lifelong
  Struggle for a New Science. Swisher, C. (Ed.),
  Galileo (pp.13-36). San Diego Greenhaven Press.