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Galileo Galilei

**Figure 1.5:**
$\begin{figure}\centerline{\includegraphics {photos/galileo}} \end{figure}$

Portrait of Galileo Galilei

Galileo was born in Pisa, Italy on February 15, 1564 to musician Vincenzo Galilei and Giulia degli Ammannati. The oldest of six children, Galileo moved with his family in early 1570 to Florence. Galileo started his studying at the University of Pisa in 1581. He then became a professor of mathematics at the University of Padua in 1592. During the time after his study, he made numerous discoveries such as that of the pendulum clock, (1602). Galileo also proved that objects fell with the same velocity regardless of their size.

Galileo had a relationship with Marina Gamba (they never married) who lived and worked in his house in Padua, where she bore him three children. However, this relationship did not last and Marina married Giovanni Bartoluzzi and Galileo's son, Vincenzio, joined him in Florence (1613).

Galileo invented many mechanical devices such as the pump and the telescope (1609). His telescopes helped him make many astronomic observations which proved the Copernican system. Galileo's observations got him into trouble with the Catholic Church, however, because of his noble ancestry, the church was not harsh with him. Galileo was convicted after publishing his book Dialogue, and he was put under house arrest for the remainder of his life. Galileo died in 1642 in his home outside of Florence.

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Created by:Genick Bar-Meir, Ph.D.
On: 2007-11-21

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