Francesco Maria Grimaldi,SJ(2 April 1618 – 28 December 1663) was anItalianJesuitpriest,mathematicianandphysicistwho taught at theJesuitcollege inBologna.He was born inBolognato Paride Grimaldi and Anna Cattani.[1]
Francesco Maria Grimaldi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 2 April 1618 |
| Died | 28 August 1663(aged 45) |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Other names |
|
| Known for | Free fall,diffraction |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematics,Physics |
Work
editBetween 1640 and 1650, working withRiccioli,he investigated thefree fallof objects, confirming that the distance of fall was proportional to the square of the time taken. Grimaldi and Riccioli also made a calculation ofgravity at the Earth's surfaceby recording theoscillationsof an accuratependulum.[2]
Inastronomy,he built and used instruments to measure lunar mountains as well as the height of clouds, and drew an accurate map or,selenograph,which was published by Riccioli and now adorns the entrance to theNational Air and Space Museumin Washington D.C.
He discovered and was the first to make accurate observations on thediffractionoflight[3][4](although by some accountsLeonardo da Vincihad earlier noted it[5]), and coined the word 'diffraction'. In his bookPhysico-Mathesis de Lumine, Coloribus et Iride(1665), he stated the theory of the reconstitution of sunlight from refracted coloured light.[6]
Through experimentation he was able to demonstrate that the observed passage of light could not be reconciled with the idea that it moved in a rectilinear path. Rather, the light that passed through the hole took on the shape of a cone. Later physicists used his work as evidence that light was a wave, significantly, Dutch mathematicianChristiaan Huygens.He also discovered what are known as diffraction bands.[7]
Publications
editHe only published one work:
- Physico-mathesis de lumine, coloribus et iride aliisque adnexis(in Latin). Girolamo Bernia: Johann Zieger. 1665.
The work is mainly remembered for being the first report of diffraction. In the work, he was mainly concerned with two questions:
- Is light a substance or anaccident[roughly the same as "property" ]?
- What is the relation between light and color?
He argued that light is probably a subtle fluid (thus a substance), though it might still be an accident (as Aristotelians believed). He also argued that color is associated with undulations of the subtle fluid.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Hockey, Thomas (2009).The Biographical Encyclopedia of Astronomers.Springer Publishing.ISBN978-0-387-31022-0.Archived fromthe originalon 2013-02-03.RetrievedAugust 22,2012.
- ^J.L. Heilbron,Electricity in the 17th and 18th Centuries: A Study of Early Modern Physics(Berkeley: University of California Press, 1979), 180.
- ^Francesco Maria Grimaldi,Physico mathesis de lumine, coloribus, et iride, aliisque annexis libri duo(Bologna ( "Bonomia" ), Italy: Vittorio Bonati, 1665), pp. 1–11 (in Latin).
- ^Florian Cajori (1899).A history of physics in its elementary branches: including the evolution of physical laboratories.The Macmillan Company.pp. 88–.Retrieved14 August2011.
- ^Guglielmo Libri,Histoire des sciences mathematiques en ItalieArchived2006-11-28 at theWayback Machine(1840)
- ^David L. MacAdam (1993).Selected Papers on Colorimetry - Fundamentals.SPIE, The International Society for Optical Engineering.pp. xiv–xvi.ISBN0-8194-1296-1.
- ^Thomas E. Woods (2005).How the Catholic Church built Western civilization.Regnery Publishing.pp. 105–.ISBN978-0-89526-038-3.Retrieved14 August2011.
- ^Lindberg, David C. (April 1969)."Physico-mathesis de lumine, coloribus, et iride. Francesco Maria Grimaldi".Isis.60(1): 119.doi:10.1086/350461.ISSN0021-1753.
External links
edit
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Francesco Maria Grimaldi".Catholic Encyclopedia.New York: Robert Appleton Company.- Grimaldi's (1665)Physico-mathesis de lumineArchived2017-08-08 at theWayback Machine- digital facsimile from theLinda Hall Library