“The speed of the ball—thanks to opposition from the air—will not go on increasing forever. Rather, what will happen is seen in bodies of very little weight falling through no great distance; I mean, a reduction to equable motion, which will occur also in a lead or iron ball after the descent of some thousands of braccia. This bounded terminal speed will be called the maximum that such a heavy body can naturally attain through the air...”
More from Galileo Galilei
“See now the power of truth; the same experiment which at first glance seemed to show one…”
“My purpose is to set forth a very new science dealing with a very ancient subject. There…”
“If you could see the earth illuminated when you were in a place as dark as night, it would…”
“To apply oneself to great inventions, starting from the smallest beginnings, is no task…”