![]() However by 1665 even Fabri was persuaded to accept Huygens' ring theory as improving telescopes confirmed his observations. Some, including the Jesuit Fabri, attacked not only Huygens theories but also his observations. In Systema Saturnium (1659), Huygens explained the phases and changes in the shape of the ring. By 1656 Huygens was able to confirm his ring theory to Boulliau and the results were reported to the Paris group. Boulliau had failed to detect Saturn's moon Titan so Huygens realised that he was using an inferior telescope. However others had different theories including Roberval and Boulliau. The following year he discovered the true shape of the rings of Saturn. On his return to Holland Huygens wrote a small work De Ratiociniis in Ludo Aleae on the calculus of probabilities, the first printed work on the subject. He informed the mathematicians in Paris including Boulliau of his discovery and in turn Huygens learnt of the work on probability carried out in a correspondence between Pascal and Fermat. In this same year he made his first visit to Paris. Using one of his own lenses, Huygens detected, in 1655, the first moon of Saturn. Around 1654 he devised a new and better way of grinding and polishing lenses. Huygens soon turned his attention to lens grinding and telescope construction. Huygens' 1654 work De Circuli Magnitudine Inventa Ⓣ ( Finding the magnitude of the circle ) was a more major work on similar topics. The 1651 publication Cyclometriae Ⓣ ( Measuring the circle ) showed the fallacy in methods proposed by Gregory of Saint-Vincent, who had claimed to have squared the circle. ![]() Huygens's first publications in 16 considered mathematical problems. He followed the visit to Denmark with others around Europe including Rome. In 1649 Huygens went to Denmark as part of a diplomatic team and hoped to continue to Stockholm to visit Descartes but the weather did not allow him to make this journey. Although he failed at this problem he did solve the related problem of how to hang weights on the rope so that it hung in a parabolic shape. Mersenne challenged Huygens to solve a number of problems including the shape of the rope supported from its ends. Through his father's contact with Mersenne, a correspondence between Huygens and Mersenne began around this time. Although John Pell was a teacher at Breda about this time, he seems to have had little contact with Huygens. From 1647 until 1649 he continued to study law and mathematics but now at the College of Orange at Breda. ![]() Van Schooten tutored him in mathematics while he was in Leiden. His mathematical education was clearly influenced by Descartes who was an occasional visitor at the Huygens' home and took a great interest in the mathematical progress of the young Christiaan.Ĭhristiaan Huygens studied law and mathematics at the University of Leiden from 1645 until 1647. Tutored at home by private teachers until he was 16 years old, Christiaan learned geometry, how to make mechanical models and social skills such as playing the lute. In particular Constantin had many contacts in England and corresponded regularly with Mersenne and was a friend of Descartes. ![]() It was through him that Christiaan was to gain access to the top scientific circles of the times. His father Constantin Huygens had studied natural philosophy and was a diplomat. Biography Christiaan Huygens came from an important Dutch family.
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