Galileo Galilei Was an Italian Mathematician, Who

Galileo Galilei was an Italian mathematician, who would apply his mathematics to work in astronomy, physics of kinematics, and strength of material. Today he is known as the founder of modern mechanics and physics. Born in February of 1564, he spent his childhood in Pisa. His father was a rather famous musician who encouraged him to become a medical doctor, and supported Galileo's education at the University of Pisa, which began in 1581. Galileo found, however, that his talent was in mathematics, not in medicine, and he opted to leave the university, but did pursue a career in math education on his own, studying the work of Euclid and Archimedes. He would vastly improve the concepts and results in hydrostatics, and then be appointed professor of mathematics first at the University of Pisa, and then at the University of Padua. While teaching there, he would do mathematical work relating to free-fall motion and the motion of the planets.

Galileo used his superior knowledge in mathematics and physics to modify and improve the spyglass into a telescope, which was so advanced it could be used not only for seeing across a long distance at sea, but also for viewing celestial bodies. His telescope allowed him to make the discovery that the Moon was actually covered in mountains, valleys, and other distinctive landscape features similar to those found on Earth. Previously, it had been believed that the surface of the Moon was smooth. Galileo also made other incredible astronomical discovering relating to the moons of Jupiter, Saturn, the phases of Venus, and the sunspots of the Sun.