Notable Scientific Contributions
In the process of searching for a solution to the problem of determining longitude, many scientists added to the knowledge of astronomy and physics.
- Galileo - detailed studies of Jupiter's moons, which proved Ptolemy's assertion that not all celestial objects orbit the Earth
- Robert Hooke - determination of the relationship between forces and displacements in springs, laying the foundations for the theory of elasticity.
- Christiaan Huygens - invention of pendulum clock and a spring balance for pocket watch.
- Jacob Bernoulli, with refinements by Leonhard Euler - invention of the calculus of variations for Bernoulli's solution of the brachistochrone problem (finding the shape of the path of a pendulum with a period that does not vary with degree of lateral displacement). This refinement created greater accuracy in pendulum clocks.
- John Flamsteed and many others - formalization of observational astronomy by means of astronomical observatory facilities, further advancing modern astronomy as a science.
- John Harrison - invention of the gridiron pendulum and bimetallic strip along with further studies in the thermal behavior of materials. This contributed to the evolving science of Solid mechanics. Invention of caged roller bearings contributed to refinements in mechanical engineering designs.
Read more about this topic: History Of Longitude
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