Pierre Petit

Pierre Petit (1594–1677) was a French physicist, astronomer, and mathematician, known for his contributions to the field of optics and his work on the pendulum.

Early Life

Pierre Petit was born in 1594 in Montluçon, France. He was educated at the University of Paris, where he studied mathematics and physics.

Career

After completing his studies, Petit worked as a mathematics teacher and later became a member of the French Academy of Sciences. He is best known for his work on the pendulum, where he conducted experiments to determine the gravitational force acting on it. His findings were instrumental in the development of pendulum clocks.

Petit also made significant contributions to the field of optics. He conducted experiments on the refraction of light and developed a theory on the color of the sky. His work in this area laid the groundwork for future studies in atmospheric optics.

Later Life and Legacy

Petit died in 1677. His work has had a lasting impact on the fields of physics, astronomy, and mathematics. He is remembered for his innovative experiments and his contributions to our understanding of the natural world.

See Also

• History of Physics
• History of Mathematics
• History of Astronomy

References

• Pierre Petit: A Forgotten Figure of the Scientific Revolution by Robert Halleux
• The Pendulum: A Case Study in Physics by Gregory L. Baker and Peter L. Baker