Christiaan huygens discovered

Christiaan huygens clock
Christiaan huygens cause of death
Christiaan huygens wife

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Christiaan Huygens was a brilliant Dutch mathematician, physicist, and astronomer who lived during the seventeenth century, a period sometimes referred to as the Scientific Revolution. Huygens, a highly gifted theoretical and experimental scientist, is best known for his work on the theories of centrifugal force, the wave theory of light, and the pendulum clock.

At an early age, Huygens began work in advanced mathematics by attempting to disprove several theories established by the ancient Greeks in simple geometry. He was also very interested in astronomy and telescopes and spent a considerable amount of time devising methods to improve both the optical and mechanical performance of the telescope. His achievements in astronomy were reported in his 1659 book entitled Systema Saturnium, in which he noted his discovery of the rings encircling the planet Saturn as well as his observations about the moon, the planets, and the Orion nebula.

Huygens' keen interest in astronomy probably led to his efforts in the measurement of time and other matters relating to mechanical physics.

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Christiaan Huygens: Discoverer of Titan

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12/08/201246574 views153 likes

ESA / About Us / ESA history

Born in 1629, Huygens came from a wealthy and well-connected Dutch family, who served in the diplomatic service to the House of Orange. As a young boy he showed promise in mathematics and drawing. In 1645 he went to the University of Leiden to study mathematics and law. Two years later he went to the College of Breda.

Together with his brother Constantijn, Christiaan applied himself to the manufacture of telescopes, and soon after developed a theory of the telescope. Huygens discovered the law of refraction to derive the focal distance of lenses. He also realised how to optimise his telescopes by using a new way of grinding and polishing the lenses.

In 1655, he pointed one of his new telescopes towards Saturn with the intention of studying its rings. But he was very surprised to see that, besides the rings, the planet also had a large moon, now known as Titan.

Interested in the measurement of time, Huygens discovered the pendulum could be a regulator of cl

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Quick Info

Born

14 April 1629
The Hague, Netherlands

Died

8 July 1695
The Hague, Netherlands

Summary

Christiaan Huygens was a Dutch mathematician who patented the first pendulum clock, which greatly increased the accuracy of time measurement. He laid the foundations of mechanics and also worked on astronomy and probability.

Biography

Christiaan Huygens came from an important Dutch family. His father Constantin Huygens had studied natural philosophy and was a diplomat. It was through him that Christiaan was to gain access to the top scientific circles of the times. In particular Constantin had many contacts in England and corresponded regularly with Mersenne and was a friend of Descartes.

Tutored at home by private teachers until he was 16 years old, Christiaan learned geometry, how to make mechanical models and social skills such as playing the lute. His mathematical education was clearly influenced by Descartes who was an occasional visitor at the Huygens' home and took a great interest in the mathematical progress of the young Christiaan.

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