Galileo

Galileo

From ACS Junior 2019

Open Ended

Who is Galileo?

What do you know about him?

What are some of his significant achievements?

Galileo

Galileo Galilei was born in 1564. He was born in the town of Pisa. in what is now Italy. When he was 20 years old, he was studying in Pisa His father wanted him to be a doctor. Galileo was bored with school. The only subject he really liked was Mathematics So, the court mathematician offered to tutor him privately. Galileo's tutor said he could become a qualified mathematician. Galileo's father was disappointed, but he agreed.

Open Ended

What made Galileo's father disappointed? Explain.

Galileo

Galileo began experimenting with different things because he needed to earn money. He tried to come up with an invention that he could sell for money tie had some success with one invention. It was like a compass that could be used to measure land. One day, he heard that a Dutch inventor had invented something called a spyglass. The inventor was trying to keep it a secret. Galileo decided to work on one of his own. Within 24 hours. he had invented a telescope. It could magnify things to make them appear ten times larger than real life.

Open Ended

How did Galileo's ability to invent things help him?

Describe what he invented.

Galileo

One night, he pointed his telescope toward the sky. He made his first of many space observations. Everyone thought the moon was smooth. Galileo saw that it was not. The moon was covered in bumps and craters. As technology has improved, Galileo and many others have made improvements to the telescope. Today, the telescope is a wonderful device that allows us to see objects far, far away.

Open Ended

What tells you that Galileo is an observant person?