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This title in other editionseBook editionsPendulum: Leon Foucault and the Triumph of Scienceby Amir Aczel
Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:In 1851, struggling, self-taught physicist Léon Foucault performed a dramatic demonstration inside the Panthéon in Paris. By tracking a pendulum's path as it swung repeatedly across the interior of the large ceremonial hall, Foucault offered the first definitive proof — before an audience that comprised the cream of Parisian society, including the future emperor, Napoleon III — that the earth revolves on its axis. Through careful, primary research, world-renowned author Amir Aczel has revealed the life of a gifted physicist who had almost no formal education in science, and yet managed to succeed despite the adversity he suffered at the hands of his peers. The range and breadth of Foucault's discoveries is astonishing: He gave us the modern electric compass, devised an electric microscope, invented photographic technology, and made remarkable deductions about color theory, heat waves, and the speed of light. Yet until now so little has been known about his life. Richly detailed and evocative, Pendulum tells of the illustrious period in France during the Second Empire; of Foucault's relationship with Napoleon III, a colorful character in his own right; and — most notably — of the crucial triumph of science over religion. Dr. Aczel has crafted a fascinating narrative based on the life of this most astonishing and largely unrecognized scientist, whose findings answered many age-old scientific questions and posed new ones that are still relevant today. Review:"Aczel's material is so intriguing that one is inclined to forgive his habit of pursuing tangents....a choppy yet fascinating survey of Parisian science." Publishers Weekly Review:"With rich detail, [Aczel] evokes the spirit of France during the Second Empire, weaving a tale of political intrigue, scientific discovery, and personal triumph." Library Journal
Review:"Aczel effectively uses Foucault?s story toprovide a vivid panorama of Second Empire Paris...A good summary of an important era in science and one of its underrated stars." Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis:Includes bibliographical references (p. 251-264) and index. Table of ContentsPreface A Stunning Discovery in the Cellar Ancient Logic: Bible and Inquisition Failed Experiments with Falling Bodies A Science "Irregular" in the Age of the Engineer The Meridian of Paris "Come See the Earth Turn" Mathematical Bedlam A New Bonaparte The Force of Coriolis The Panthéon The Gyroscope The Coup d'État and the Second Empire An Unemployed Genius The Observatory Physicist Final Glory A Premature End The Defeat at Sedan Aftermath Appendix: Proofs of Foucault's Sine Law Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography Index
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Related SubjectsScience and Mathematics » History of Science » General
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