Galileo's Scientific Innovations

Galileo’s contribution to the microscope

• compound microscope design

• simple microscope design

• telescope invention

• optical lens theory

Galileo’s main scientific tool improvement

• Telescope

• Microscope

• Barometer

• Thermometer

Strategic use of improved tools in science

• knowledge through better data

• increased funding for research

• more scientists in the field

• faster publication of results

Impact of Galileo’s discoveries on scientific method

• on observation and experimentation

• on theoretical predictions

• on mathematical modeling

• on philosophical reasoning

Planning an experiment with Galileo’s microscope

• animal cells for structure

• fungal cells for structure

• plant cells for structure

• bacterial cells for structure

Galileo’s nationality

• Italian

• Spanish

• French

• Greek

Use of telescope for astronomy

• Jupiter’s moons

• Saturn’s rings

• Mars’ surface

• Venus’ atmosphere

Reasoning behind Galileo’s telescope improvements

• better tools for accurate observations

• increased magnification for distant stars

• simpler design for easier use

• lighter materials for portability

Year Galileo improved the telescope (approx.)

• 1609

• 1610

• 1598

• 1625

Galileo’s evidence for heliocentrism

• The phases of Venus

• The rings of Saturn

• The surface of Mars

• The moons of Neptune