Léon Foucault
French physicist (1819–1868) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Jean Bernard Léon Foucault (UK: /ʒɒ̃ ˈbɛərnɑːr ˌleɪɒ̃ ˈfuːkoʊ/, US: /ˌʒɒ̃ bɛərˈnɑːr leɪˌɒ̃ fuːˈkoʊ/; French: [ʒɑ̃ bɛʁnaʁ leɔ̃ fuko]; 18 September 1819 – 11 February 1868) was a French physicist best known for his demonstration of the Foucault pendulum, a device demonstrating the effect of Earth's rotation. He also made an early measurement of the speed of light, discovered eddy currents, and is credited with naming the gyroscope.
French physicist (1819–1868)
Léon Foucault | |
|---|---|
 Photograph by Bertall & Cie | |
| Born | Jean Bernard Léon Foucault 18 September 1819 |
| Died | 11 February 1868(1868-02-11) (aged 48) |
| Resting place | Montmartre Cemetery |
| Alma mater | University of Paris |
| Known for | Foucault knife-edge test Foucault pendulum Foucault's currents Foucault's gyroscope Foucault's measurements of the speed of light Glan–Foucault prism Diurnal motion Gyroscope Catadioptric systems Silvering process |
| Awards | Copley Medal (1855) FRS (1864) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physics |
| Institutions | Paris Observatory |