People often question, “What is the universe? Where did it come from? How does it exist?” The truth is that the universe is still not entirely understood. Over the years, philosophers, physicists, scientists, and even historians have tried to explain the phenomenon. They have tried to explain cosmology. Cosmology is the study of the origin and evolution of the universe. Cosmological history originates with the Greeks and their Earth-centred universe, followed by Copernicus and Galileo and their Sun-centred universe, and finally Newton’s laws that present a new outlook on understanding the state of the universe.
Although Isaac Newton was the man who revolutionized theoretical physics and developed the three laws of motion and the universal gravity law, Galileo Galilei was a very important man at the time. Nicolaus Copernicus hypothesized that the universe revolved around the sun; he called his model “The Heliocentric Universe,” which was based on Aristarchus of Samos’ model of the heliocentric universe, however, Copernicus believed that there was more to understanding the universe than Aristarchus had outlined and decided to reconstruct the heliocentric model.
Copernicus, like many others, used the sphere to construct his universe model because of its perfect geometric construction. Copernicus believed that the universe could not be centred around the Earth, but rather that the Earth rotated around a fixed centre. Based on the heliocentric model, the retrogression of planets is easily explained. Logically explained by the model, Venus and Mercury are often seen near dusk or dawn because they have tight orbits around the sun.
After three decades, Copernicus was able to confidently declare his model of the Universe. Although it was accurate, it did not account for the epicycles eccentric orbits of some planets. Copernicus’ model of the universe was widely accepted by scholars of the day because the Earth was no longer targeted as the centre of the cosmos.
Galileo’s work at the beginning of the 17th century greatly contributed to the Copernican model of the universe. First, he discovered that the planet Venus has phases like the Moon. At different times during the month, the Moon shines because it reflects light from the Sun. Based on the position of the Moon, an observer situated on Earth will recognize different phases of the Moon. Galileo’s observations of Venus relative to the Earth and Sun showed that Venus undergoes phases as does the Moon, however, they are only logically explained if the Sun lies closer to the Earth than to Venus. Basically, the Sun illuminates Venus, which in turn shares light with Earth. Galileo’s observations prove that Venus is not orbiting the Earth, but rather that it is orbiting the Sun, which was a step closer to understanding that the Universe is heliocentric.
Galileo always defended his model and argued that, in fact, the Universe was heliocentric.
Although Galileo was fascinated by the cosmos, he proceeded to study the laws of motion. In particular, Galileo was influential in the development of understanding the laws of motion. Aristotle’s idea was that objects tend to stay still until a force acts on the object, which causes it to have motion. Galileo’s later work outlines the motion of a projectile along a parabolic path. Galileo was able to describe parabolic trajectory by separating angular motion into two motions- horizontal and vertical motions. His breakthrough in motion marked a turning point in Western physics. It was also Galileo who initially proposed that the Earth pulls masses towards it with a constant acceleration.
The work of Kepler, Copernicus and Galileo, led Isaac Newton to unite their theories and conjure the universal gravitation constant. Newton’s three laws of motion are the foundation for the study of motion in modern-day physics.
Although Isaac Newton was the man who revolutionized theoretical physics and developed the three laws of motion and the universal gravity law, Galileo Galilei was a very important man at the time. Nicolaus Copernicus hypothesized that the universe revolved around the sun; he called his model “The Heliocentric Universe,” which was based on Aristarchus of Samos’ model of the heliocentric universe, however, Copernicus believed that there was more to understanding the universe than Aristarchus had outlined and decided to reconstruct the heliocentric model.
Copernicus, like many others, used the sphere to construct his universe model because of its perfect geometric construction. Copernicus believed that the universe could not be centred around the Earth, but rather that the Earth rotated around a fixed centre. Based on the heliocentric model, the retrogression of planets is easily explained. Logically explained by the model, Venus and Mercury are often seen near dusk or dawn because they have tight orbits around the sun.
After three decades, Copernicus was able to confidently declare his model of the Universe. Although it was accurate, it did not account for the epicycles eccentric orbits of some planets. Copernicus’ model of the universe was widely accepted by scholars of the day because the Earth was no longer targeted as the centre of the cosmos.
Galileo’s work at the beginning of the 17th century greatly contributed to the Copernican model of the universe. First, he discovered that the planet Venus has phases like the Moon. At different times during the month, the Moon shines because it reflects light from the Sun. Based on the position of the Moon, an observer situated on Earth will recognize different phases of the Moon. Galileo’s observations of Venus relative to the Earth and Sun showed that Venus undergoes phases as does the Moon, however, they are only logically explained if the Sun lies closer to the Earth than to Venus. Basically, the Sun illuminates Venus, which in turn shares light with Earth. Galileo’s observations prove that Venus is not orbiting the Earth, but rather that it is orbiting the Sun, which was a step closer to understanding that the Universe is heliocentric.
Galileo always defended his model and argued that, in fact, the Universe was heliocentric.
Although Galileo was fascinated by the cosmos, he proceeded to study the laws of motion. In particular, Galileo was influential in the development of understanding the laws of motion. Aristotle’s idea was that objects tend to stay still until a force acts on the object, which causes it to have motion. Galileo’s later work outlines the motion of a projectile along a parabolic path. Galileo was able to describe parabolic trajectory by separating angular motion into two motions- horizontal and vertical motions. His breakthrough in motion marked a turning point in Western physics. It was also Galileo who initially proposed that the Earth pulls masses towards it with a constant acceleration.
The work of Kepler, Copernicus and Galileo, led Isaac Newton to unite their theories and conjure the universal gravitation constant. Newton’s three laws of motion are the foundation for the study of motion in modern-day physics.
No comments:
Post a Comment