CONTENTS 



the earth's movements, p. 47 His invention of a "steam-engine," 

 p. 48 His discoveries in geology, p. 50. 



CHAPTER IV 



THE NEW COSMOLOGY COPERNICUS TO KEPLER AND GALILEO 



The doctrine of the earth's motion as propounded by Nikolaus 

 of Cusa, p. 53 The coming of Copernicus, p. 54 His early concep- 

 tion of the heliocentric system of the. universe, p. 55 Reception of 

 Copernicus's revolutionary views, p. 63 Tycho Brahe, p."~6s His 

 rejection of the Copernican theory, p. 65 Many specific advances 

 made by him in astronomy, p. 67 His accuracy as an observer, 

 p. 68 Johann Kepler and the laws of planetary motion, p. 70 

 The sun as the centre of the planetary orbits taken for granted, p. 

 73 Galileo Galilei, p. 76 His construction of the telescope and his 

 studies of the heavenly bodies by means of it, p. 77 His discovery 

 of the sun's spots, p. 80 His accusation before the Inquisition, and 

 his renunciation, p. 91. 



CHAPTER V 



GALILEO AND THE NEW PHYSICS 



His publication of the Dialoghi delle Nuove Scienze, p. 93 His de- 

 monstration of the velocity of falling bodies, p. 94 His studies of 

 projectiles, p. 95 His studies of the pendulum, p. 100 Stevinus 

 and the law of equilibrium, p. 102 Galileo and the equilibrium of 

 fluids, p. 105 His experiments on the displacement of floating 

 bodies, p. 107 William Gilbert and the study of magnetism, p. in 

 His demonstration that the earth was a giant loadstone, p. 1 14 

 His studies of the dipping needle, p. 115 His prediction as to 

 where the vertical dip would be found, p. 116 The studies of light, 

 heat, and atmospheric pressure, p. 117 Torricelli, p. 120 His dis- 

 covery of air pressure, and his invention of the barometer, p. 121 

 Pascal's suggestion for demonstrating that Torricelli 's theory is 

 correct, p. 122. 



CHAPTER VI 



TWO PSEUDO-SCIENCES ALCHEMY AND ASTROLOGY 



Ancient origin of alchemy, p. 124 Fabulous claims of numerous* 

 impostors, p. 125 Serious belief in the possibility of transmuting 

 metals, and eminent personages who practised alchemy, p. 126 

 Alchemic conceptions of the process of transmutation, p. 128 The 

 alchemists' three principles, salt, sulphur, and mercury, p. 129 



IV 



