Galileo, the Telescope, & Copernicanism Flashcards
An overview of key aspects related to Galileo Galilei, focusing on his early career, inventions, contributions to astronomy, and his interactions with the Church.
What were some of the debates surrounding Galileo’s trial?
Stillman Drake (Galileo): Galileo is devout and wants to save the Church from choosing incorrect science.
Pietro Redondi (Galileo Heretic): the real reason for Galileo’s trial is not heliocentrism but his atomistic matter theory and its implications for the Eucharist doctrine (which relies on Thomist Aristotelian philosophy)
Mario Biagioli (Galileo Courtier): G’s fall is the inevitable ‘fall of a favourite’, scripted within the conventions of court patronage ; intense factional politics in the papal court in the 1630s; G’s main defenders have died by 1633.
What were two important astronomical works by Galileo?
- “Starry Messenger” (1610), where he presented observations of the moon and the moons of Jupiter through a telescope.
- “Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems” (1632), which defended the Copernican heliocentric model.
What profession did Galileo have before moving to Florence?
Before moving to Florence, Galileo held the position of professor of mathematics at the University of Pisa and Padua
What theory did Galileo promote that defied the Church?
The heliocentric model, which asserted that the Earth orbited the sun.
This theory directly contradicted the geocentric model supported by the Catholic Church, which held that the Earth was at the center of the universe and that celestial bodies, including the sun, orbited around it.
Galileo’s advocacy for heliocentrism challenged the established theological interpretation of Scripture, leading to conflicts with the Church and his subsequent trial by the Roman Catholic Inquisition.
What did the Galileo trials demonstrate?
- Copernicanism and the heliocentric model on trial.
- Degree of caution/secrecy needed for all Catholic scientists studying copernicanism.
What was the issue of the Church with Galileo’s application of Copernicanism?
This is a matter of model vs. reality. Rather than discussing copernicanism as a model, Galileo asserted heliocentrism as a physical reality. The Church’s issue with Galileo grew when he, without qualifications in theology, asserted that copernicanism aligned with biblical scripture.
Why did Tycho prefer to make his observations with the naked eye?
During his time in the late 16th century, telescope technology had not yet been developed.
Tycho’s observational instruments were primarily large, precision-made instruments. He believed that the naked eye could provide accurate and reliable observations.
Tycho’s commitment to naked-eye observations contributed significantly to the accuracy of the astronomical data he collected.
What was Kepler’s most important observational work?
“Astronomia Nova” (New Astronomy), published in 1609.
Issues with motion of Mars being too complicated (retrograde, etc).
Maybe need to abandon circular pathways, instead in ellipse.
In this work, Kepler presented his first two laws of planetary motion, the Law of Ellipses and the Law of Equal Areas, derived from meticulous observations made by Tycho Brahe, who provided Kepler with extensive and accurate data.
Kepler’s three laws of motion
- Planets move in elliptical orbits with the sun at one focus.
- The line connecting a planet to the sun sweeps out equal areas at equal times, signifying the conservation of angular momentum.
- The square of a planet’s orbital period is proportional to the cube of its semi-major axis, providing a quantitative relationship between a planet’s orbital characteristics.
Describe Tycho Brahe’s model of the cosmos and how it differed from the Copernican model.
A geoheliocentric system, combining elements of both geocentrism and heliocentrism. In his model, the Earth was stationary at the center, while the sun orbited the Earth, and other planets orbited the sun.
Using three terms/phrases each, compare natural philosophy and scholastic Aristotelianism with the ‘New Science.’
Natural philosophy and scholastic Aristotelianism differed significantly from the ‘New Science.’
Natural philosophy, rooted in Aristotelian tradition, relied on deductive reasoning and accepted authorities.
In contrast, the ‘New Science’ emphasized empirical observation, experimentation, and the rejection of traditional dogmas.
What were the objections of Copernicanism?
- Distance to and size of stars
- On earth, why do objects fall towards centre (and not fly off?)
- Lack of direct observational evidence of earth’s rotation
