Galileo - speed of light measured using lanterns
Galileo Galilei suggested in 1638 and carried out experiments in 1667 to try measure the speed of light. ( Pictures of Galileo Galilei )
Two people had to stand at least a mile apart. They both had covered lanterns. When one person uncovered his lantern, the other person had to uncover his lantern when he saw this. A third person measured the time between when the first and second lanterns where uncovered.
Repeated experiments failed to accurately measure any time interval between when the first and second lanterns were uncovered. They could only say that light travel at least ten times faster than sound.
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