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Galileo Galilei
Emina Hadrovic
Physics 1040-002
M. Weiss
GALILEO GALILEI 2
Galileo Galilei
Galileo Galiilei mostly commonly know by only his first name Galileo, was a popular
physicist and astronomer. Galileo did not begin his career going into physics and astronomy but
going into medicine. He changed his mind when he realized the he had a talent in math ( The
Star Child Team, 2017). The thought of Galileo maybe not becoming the person that he was is
scary, if he didn't chose physics and astronomy would any of the amazing discoveries he made be
the same, probably not. Galileo made big impacts on physics and astronomy and what I want to
discuss is the three biggest impacts he has made. The three biggest impacts he made is objecting
that the Earth is the center of the solar system, creating a powerful telescope but not inventing it,
and publishing his work, defying the church ( Bennet, 2017). Galileo has done much more and is
now a highly respected physicist and astronomer, unlike back in his day he was a disgrace for not
Galileo Galilei was born and died between the years 1564-1642, in those years they
believed in an Earth centered solar system. To explain what that means it is that all the planets in
our solar system including the Sun orbits around the Earth rather then everything orbiting the
Sun. Galileo gathered evidence that showed that an Earth centered solar system was not true but
an Sun centered solar system is true. He proved this by arguing Aristotles claim Earth could not
be moving because objects like birds, falling stones, and clouds would be left behind if Earth
moved is not true (Bennet, 2017). He shows this by doing an simple experiment involving balls
and how they roll. The balls will keep rolling until a force stops it. He shows rather then birds
falling back, they would move with Earths motion proving that Aristotles claim is false (Bennet,
2017). Galileo used something simple as ball to explain and prove that he was right. Aristotles
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claim could have easily been proved that it was false by going outside and rolling a ball, Galileo
was the great physicist and astronomer that actually went out and proved it. He wanted people to
see this and everyone in his time did not listen. Also, with the telescope that Galileo created he
can see Venus which showed it was orbiting the Sun instead of the Earth (Bennet, 2017). The
evidence he collect clearly showed that we had a Sun centered solar system and he is highly
Telescope
Galileo is known for a lot of amazing things, he is credited for inventing the telescope,
although he did not invent the telescope. Galileo built a telescope in 1609 but the telescope was
already invented by Hans Lippershey in 1608. Galileo telescope was way more powerful then
Lippersheys telescope. The invention of the spyglass is what made him invent his telescope.
Basically what a telescope does is make distant object appear closer. Galileos telescope made
amazing discoveries in the skies. His discoveries proved another of Aristoles claims as false, the
claim was that every thing in the heavens must be perfect and unchanging (Bennet, 2017).
Galileo with his telescope gave evidence that the Sun had sunspots and was not perfect, and he
saw that the Moon had mountains and valleys making it imperfect. His telescope also helped
support his Sun centered solar system by observing four moons orbiting Jupiter (Bennet, 2017).
It has been 400 years since Galileo first discovered the four moons orbiting Jupiter ( The Star
Child Team, 2017). His telescope made a huge impact in the astronomy field and has helped
astronomers further their research and find more planets and galaxies. The telescopes we have
now are incredible but the telescope Galileo had was incredible for the technolgy in his time.
Publishing Work
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Galileo was incredibility brave to publish his work considering that it might even cost
him his life. He was called to The Catholic Church in 1616 because of his work and the church
accused him of being a heretic but they let him go because he said he wouldnt state his belief
publicly. Although Galileo went against the church and published a book in 1632 stating his
beliefs. The church called him again and this time gave him life imprisonment in 1633. He was
imprisoned in his own house because of his old age ( The Star Child Team, 2017). Galileo knew
that if he did not get his work out to the world then no one would know the truth. He fought to
have his work read and at the end it was all worth it because now his work is even used today.
Conclusion
prove what he believed in. The major impacts that Galileo had on physics and astronomy was
showing that the Earth centered solar system was not correct, he made a powerful telescope, and
that he also fought to have his work published even when his life was on the line. Galileo tried to
have his work be read and listened to in his time but the church stopped anyone from furthering
any interest in it but it still got heard and changed the world making it the way it is now. The
world would not be the way it is now if Galileo was not here, he was very important into getting
References
Bennett, J., Donahue M., Schneider, N., Voit, M. (2017). Pearson: The Essential Cosmic
https://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/whos_who_level2/galileo.html