Francesco Maria Grimaldi

[[image:image:Francescomaria_Grimaldi.jpg|thumb|Francesco Maria Grimaldi.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Francesco Maria Grimaldi (April 2, 1618 - December 28, 1663) was an Italian mathematician and physicist who taught at the Jesuit college in Bologna.

Related Topics:
April 2 - 1618 - December 28 - 1663 - Italian - Mathematician - Physicist - Jesuit - Bologna

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Between 1640 and 1650, working with Riccioli, he investigated the free fall of objects, discovering that the distance of fall was proportional to the square of the time taken.

Related Topics:
1640 - 1650 - Riccioli - Free fall

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In astronomy, he built and used instruments to measure geological features on the Moon, and drew an accurate map or selenograph which was published by Riccioli.

Related Topics:
Astronomy - Moon

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He was the first to make accurate observations on the diffraction of light (although Leonardo da Vinci had earlier noted it), and coined the word 'diffraction'. Later physicists used his work as evidence that light was a wave, and Isaac Newton used it to arrive at his more comprehensive theory of light.

Related Topics:
Diffraction - Light - Leonardo da Vinci - Isaac Newton

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~