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Overview
Many historians credit Galileo as the "founder of modern experimental science." But his life was not easy. His outspoken beliefs and discoveries earned him many enemies. The Roman Catholic Church disagreed with Galileo regarding Earth's position in the universe. The Church punished him and he spent the rest of his life under house arrest.
About the Author:
Paul Hightower is a technical writer and science education consultant. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in physics from the University of Texas
Synopsis
Many historians credit Galileo as the "founder of modern experimental science." But his life was not easy. His outspoken beliefs and discoveries earned him many enemies. The Roman Catholic Church disagreed with Galileo regarding Earth's position in the universe. The Church punished him and he spent the rest of his life under house arrest.
About the Author:
Paul Hightower is a technical writer and science education consultant. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in physics from the University of Texas
Children's Literature
Author Hightower has written a detailed biography of the scientist Galileo. He was born in 1564 in Pisa, Italy, the oldest of seven children. Galileo took after his father who was a musician and skilled mathematician. His father liked to experiment and examine different ways of doing things, and Galileo was exposed early to investigative attitudes. At the age of ten, Galileo was sent to a monastery school. He studied logic, Latin, Greek, and religion, as well as how to play several musical instruments. He did well in his studies and went on to the University of Pisa to study medicine. He soon tired of medicine and began a study of mathematics. At the age of nineteen, he began to experiment with pendulums. He used his studies of the pendulum to develop a tool used by doctors to measure a patient's pulse. In 1853, Galileo left college for lack of interest, poor grades, and lack of funds. Although Galileo knew there was not any money to be made in mathematics, he nevertheless continued his studies on his own. Eventually, with the help of a friend, he found employment at the University of Pisa as a mathematics professor. Galileo then built his first telescope and began to observe the night sky. Galileo liked to test certain theories and began to explore Aristotle's scientific theories, which were based on reason and logic. Everyone did not agree with Galileo's ideas and his examination of Aristotle's work, but he eventually found work as chief mathematician and philosopher to the Grand Duke of Tuscany. A few years later, he published Letters on Sunspots in defense of Copernicanism. The Inquisition thought these writings of an Earth in motion about the sun were heretical and wrong.Galileo was convicted of heresy and placed under house arrest. In 1642, Galileo died while still under house arrest. It was not until 1992 that the Catholic Church admitted their mistakes. Color and black and white illustrations are included. Back material includes science activities, chronology, chapter notes, glossary, further reading, and internet addresses. Reviewer: Della A. Yannuzzi