Benedetto Castelli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benedetto Castelli
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| Born | 1578 |
| Died | 9 April 1643 Rome, Papal States
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| Alma mater | University of Padua |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematician |
| Institutions | University of Pisa |
| Academic advisors | Galileo Galilei |
| Notable students | Giovanni Alfonso Borelli Evangelista Torricelli Bonaventura Cavalieri Antonio Nardi Raffaello Magiotti |
Benedetto Castelli (1578 – 9 April 1643) was an Italian mathematician. His birth name was Antonio Castelli. He changed it to Benedetto when he joined the Benedictine Order in 1595.
Contents
Discovering Benedetto Castelli's Life
Benedetto Castelli was born in Brescia, Italy. He studied at the University of Padua. Later, he became an abbot, a leader in a Benedictine monastery. This monastery was in Monte Cassino.
Castelli was a loyal friend and student of the famous scientist Galileo Galilei. He even taught Galileo's son, Vincenzo. Castelli helped Galileo study sunspots. He also took part in discussions about the ideas of Nicolaus Copernicus. Copernicus believed the Earth orbited the Sun, not the other way around.
Castelli's Work as a Mathematician
Castelli was very interested in mathematics and hydraulics. Hydraulics is the study of how liquids move. He became a mathematician at the University of Pisa. He took over this job after Galileo left. Later, he worked at the University of Rome La Sapienza.
Castelli also introduced another important mathematician, Bonaventura Cavalieri, to Galileo. This led to many letters between them. Galileo helped Cavalieri get a job at the University of Bologna in 1629.
The Phases of Venus
Castelli was involved in understanding the phases of Venus. This is how Venus appears to change shape in the sky, like the Moon.
In December 1610, Galileo received a letter from Castelli. Castelli asked if the phases of Venus could be seen with Galileo's new telescope. A few days later, Galileo wrote to Johannes Kepler. He said he had seen Venus going through phases. It is not clear if Castelli was telling Galileo about this for the first time. Or if he was replying to Galileo, who might have told him earlier.
Benedetto Castelli passed away in Rome.
Castelli's Notable Students
Many of Castelli's students became famous scientists themselves. These included:
- Giovanni Alfonso Borelli
- Raffaello Magiotti
- Antonio Nardi
- Evangelista Torricelli, who invented the barometer. A barometer measures air pressure.
Castelli also suggested Gasparo Berti for a mathematics job at Sapienza. Berti was supposed to take Castelli's place at the university. However, Berti died before he could start the job.
Castelli's Published Works
Castelli wrote important books about how water moves. One was called Mensuration of Running Water. Another was Geometrical Demonstrations of the Measure of Running Waters. In this book, he was described as an Abbot and Mathematician to Pope Urban VIII. Pope Urban VIII was once a supporter of Galileo.
Castelli dedicated both of these books to Taddeo Barberini. Taddeo was a nephew of Pope Urban VIII.
See also
In Spanish: Benedetto Castelli para niños
- List of Roman Catholic scientist-clerics
- Letter to Benedetto Castelli
