Galileo's Contribution to Modern Science

Galileo's Contribution to Modern Science

Galileo's Contribution to Modern Science

Introduction

In Physics, Galileo created a thermometer, and discovered the laws of falling bodies and the parabolic motion of projectiles. In Astronomy, he perfected the telescope, with which he discovered sunspots, lunar mountains and valleys, the four largest satellites of Jupiter, and the phases of Venus. These discoveries supported the heliocentric nature of the solar system, and brought Galileo into conflict with the Roman Catholic Church. It convicted him of heresy and restricted his freedom for the last 8 years of his life(McMullin, 2005).

Discussion

Galileo was his own individual in many ways. When Galileo's father sent him to enroll in the University of Pisa, he was sent with the intentions of starting a medical career. Partly due to the fact that there was a great physician in the family in the previous century, but Galileo had no real interest in medicine. Galileo's real interests were in mathematics and philosophy. Despite his fathers desires he studied mathematics and philosophy while enrolled as a medical student. Being his own individual and defying his father by choosing a different career path, he was being his own person. Eventually his father backed off and Galileo left without completing his degree.

In 1591 Galileo's responsibility was really put to the test. Sadly his father died that year, and Galileo being the oldest son had to provide for the rest of the family. At this time Galileo had a job he liked as a professor of mathematics at Pisa, but this was a job that did not pay well. Galileo now had to search for a job that would pay more so he could provide enough for his family. With recommendations from Guidobaldo Del Monte, Galileo was appointed professor of mathematics at the University of Padua. This salary at Padua paid about three times as much as his salary at Pisa did. Galileo stepped up for his family and showed how responsible he could be, getting a better paying job and providing for his family. At Padua he taught geometry and standard astronomy to medical students, who needed to know some astronomy for their medical practice. This also brings up a situation of Galileo being an individual and having great knowledge(Fantoli, 2003).

Despite teaching astronomy Galileo disagreed with Aristotle's view of astronomy and philosophy. In public lectures he spoke on a new star known as Kepler's supernova. Aristotle was the final word on philosophy and astronomy and his beliefs were that all changes in the heavens had to occur in this lunar region close to the earth. According to Aristotle everything outside that lunar region was permanently fixed. But Galileo was able to use parallax arguments to prove that this new star could not be close to the Earth. This was a huge discovery for the fact that it showed how intelligent Galileo was, but that he had went against Aristotle and won.

Galileo's possibly greatest invention could be the ...