Galileo Galilei was born in Italy in 1564 and was the first
of six children. He had three children of his own, but was never married. He
became a famous scientist and astronomer, and is sometimes called “The Father
of Modern Science”, because his work was so important.
He taught mathematics and physics, and discovered many things
in science. It was believed that if something floats in water, it is because of
its flat shape. Galileo figured out that if something floats in water, it is
because of the weight of the thing compared to the weight of the same volume of
water. He wrote studies on motion and falling objects and developed the
universal law of acceleration. He published a study proving that the moon was
not flat and smooth, like people believed, but was round. There were people who
believed that the Earth was the center of the solar system. This was what the
Catholic Church believed too. Galileo proved that the sun was the center of the
solar system and got into big trouble with the Catholic Church.
The leaders of the Catholic Church were so upset with Galileo
that they put him on trial. He was found guilty of heresy (having a belief
different from what the Church believed) and sentenced to house arrest. He was
ordered to not have any visitors or publish any of his work outside Italy. He
ignored the order.
Galileo died in 1642. Over time, his science work was proven
to be correct. And, the leaders of the Catholic Church admitted that Galileo
had been right all along.
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