Famous People: Galileo
Galileo was a scientist and an inventor. He did not invent the telescope but he certainly improved it. Learn who Galileo was and what he invented on these sites. Included are eThemes on the Hubble telescope, inventions, and Copernicus.
Grades
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- 2,
- 3,
- 4,
- 5,
- 6,
- 7,
- 8,
- 9,
- 10,
- 11,
- 12
Links
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Starchild: Galileo Galilei
Read a short biography on Galileo and answer a question about the moon.
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Enchanted Learning: Inventors from Italy
Scroll down for information on Galileo. Galileo was the first person to use the new invention, the telescope, to observe the skies.
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BrainPop: Galileo
Students can watch the movie and then take the quiz on Galileo. NOTE: Site available by subscription only.
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Galileo the Scientist
Several high school teachers published this extensive information on Galileo. Explore "The Scientist," "His World," and "The Inquisition."
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FactMonster: Galileo
Read about the contributions Galileo made to physics and astronomy. NOTE: The site includes ads.
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PBS: Galileo Games
Students can click on the link "Galileo's Experiment" to see what happens when two objects are dropped.
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Galileo and the Telescope
Find out about the relationship between Copernicus' idea of a sun centered solar system and Galileo.
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How Stuff Works: Telescopes
Learn how to make your own telescope and find out the difference between a refractor telescope and a reflector telescope. NOTE: The site includes ads.
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Modern History Sourcebook: The Crime of Galileo
Read a transcript attributed to Galileo after his trial for heresy.
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Institute and Museum of the History of Science
Read a short biography on Galileo and then explore his inventions on the right hand menu.
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Galileo's Compass
Click on "History" for a movie about Galileo's invention.
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The Warfare of Science with Theology
Students can read this online lecture about Galileo and the Inquisition. Find out the difference between the heliocentric theory and the geocentric theory. NOTE: The site includes ads.
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The Galileo Project
Rice University provides this site on the life and science of Galileo. Find the "Galileo Timeline" under "Chronology." The "Science" link has many topics including a topic on the instruments Galileo used and invented.
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PBS: Galileo's Battle for the Heavens
Explore some of these topics: "His Telescope," "Pendulums," and "His Big Mistake." "His Life" provides a timeline of Galileo's life and work.
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Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Read this entry on Galileo which provides an overview of his life and his work.
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BBC: Galileo Galilei
Students can read about this historic figure, Galileo. NOTE: The "Talk" link leads to message boards.
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eThemes Resource: Famous People: Nicolaus Copernicus
Learn about Nicolaus Copernicus and why the church had a problem with his heliocentric theory. These sites explain the difference between a geocentric theory and a heliocentric theory. What was the scientific revolution that Copernicus was a part of?
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eThemes Resource: Space: Hubble Space Telescope
Learn about the largest telescope in the world that is orbiting Earth, the Hubble Space Telescope. Read about the history of its development, what it does, how it is serviced, its orbit, and how it works in space. Sites include images of the telescope, schema, and instructions how to build a paper model.
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eThemes Resource: Inventions
This resource provides information on various inventions and inventors. Learn about scientific and just for fun inventions. Play games and answer trivia questions about inventions and patents.
Education Standards
