Léon Foucault

Jean Bernard Léon Foucault (18 September 1819–11 February 1868) was a French physicist best known for the invention of the Foucault pendulum, a device demonstrating the effect of the Earth's rotation. He also made an early measurement of the speed of light, invented the gyroscope, and discovered eddy currents. The Foucault crater on the Moon is named after him.

Early years

Foucault was the son of a publisher at Paris, where he was born on September 18, 1819. After an education received chiefly at home, he studied medicine, which, however, he speedily abandoned for physical science. He first directed his attention to the improvement of L. J. M. Daguerre's photographic processes. For three years he was experimental assistant to Alfred Donné (1801–1878) in his course of lectures on microscopic anatomy.

Related Topics:
Paris - September 18 - 1819 - L. J. M. Daguerre - Alfred Donné - 1801 - 1878 - Anatomy

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With A. H. L. Fizeau he carried on a series of investigations on the intensity of the light of the sun, as compared with that of carbon in the arc lamp, and of lime in the flame of the oxyhydrogen blowpipe; on the interference of infrared radiation, and of light rays differing greatly in lengths of path; and on the chromatic polarization of light.

Related Topics:
A. H. L. Fizeau - Light - Sun - Carbon - Arc lamp - Lime - Oxyhydrogen blowpipe - Infrared radiation - Polarization

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