Galileo and the Pendulum (with YouTube Video)

What controversial statements did Galileo make?

• Objects fall at different rates based on their weight

• Objects fall at the same rate regardless of their weight

• The Earth is the center of the universe

• The Sun orbits the Earth

What did Galileo say was the center of our planetary system

• Earth

• Mercury

• The Sun

• Jupiter

What property of the pendulum did Galileo call 'isochronism'?

• The period is independent of the pendulum's displacement

• The period is independent of the pendulum's length

• The period depends on the mass of the pendulum

• The period depends on the displacement of the pendulum

What effect does changing the mass of the bob have on the period of a pendulum?

• The period increases with increasing mass

• The period decreases with increasing mass

• The period remains the same regardless of the mass

• The period is unpredictable with changing mass

What effect does changing the length of a pendulum have on its period?

• The period increases with increasing length

• The period decreases with increasing length

• The period remains the same regardless of the length

• The period is unpredictable with changing length

What method did Galileo propose to calibrate a pendulum?

• Counting the swings of a pendulum during one rotation of the Earth

• Measuring the time it takes for a pendulum to complete one swing

• Using a fixed star to align the pendulum with a fixed object

• Adjusting the length of the pendulum until it matches a known time

What did Galileo suggest about the relationship between orbiting planets and lengths of pendulums?

• Planets closer to the Sun have longer pendulums

• Planets closer to the Sun have shorter pendulums

• Planets further from the Sun have longer pendulums

• Planets further from the Sun have shorter pendulums

What was the punishment given to Galileo for expressing opinions contrary to the teaching of the church?

• Lifetime house arrest

• Excommunication

• Imprisonment

• Fines and penalties

What did Galileo continue to work on during his house arrest?

• A book on the motion of objects

• A book on the history of science

• A book on the philosophy of religion

• A book on the art of painting

When did Galileo die?

• January 8th, 1642

• February 15th, 1633

• March 21st, 1620

• April 4th, 1616