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Search for Life in the Universe. Chapter 2 Science of Life in the Universe (Part 2). Copernican Revolution. Copernicus Tycho and Kepler Galileo Newton Modern Physics. Copernicus. Conflict : planetary data noticeably different from Ptolemaic model
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Search for Life in the Universe Chapter 2 Science of Life in the Universe (Part 2) AST 248, Fall 2005
Copernican Revolution • Copernicus • Tycho and Kepler • Galileo • Newton • Modern Physics AST 248, Fall 2005
Copernicus • Conflict: planetary data noticeably different from Ptolemaic model • Heliocentric model: simpler than convoluted Ptolemaic model • Copernicus assumed circular orbits epicycles still required • Heliocentric model: no better fit to the data • Church: initial support, but opposition developed AST 248, Fall 2005
Tycho and Kepler • Tycho (1546-1601): unprecedented, 1 arcmin accuracy for planetary positions • New scientific method: discard poorer, old data • Kepler (1571-1630): used Tycho’s data Kepler laws: • Elliptic orbits with Sun at one focus • Sweep equal areas in equal times • T2 a3 AST 248, Fall 2005
Galileo • Galileo (1564-1642) turned the telescope into a scientific instrument. • Major Observations: • Mountains and craters on our Moon • Sunspots • Phases of Venus, like our Moon • Four moons of Jupiter • Major theories: • First relativity principle Newton’s First Law • Weight-independent gravitational acceleration (Pisa experiment) • Conflict with the Church AST 248, Fall 2005
Newton • Newton (16421727): first to write down the physical laws of mechanics: • Galilean inertia: need • F = ma • Action = reaction • Calculus: invented new mathematics to characterize the physical laws. [Other inventor of calculus: Leibnitz (16461716)] • Gravitation: • Universal law of gravitation: F = Gm1m2/r122 • Kepler laws: follow from theory AST 248, Fall 2005
Modern Physics • All physics: follows from Newton’s laws • Breakdown of Newtonian mechanics: • At large velocities speed of light • At atomic and smaller distances • Einstein (18791955): • Special theory of relativity for large velocities • General theory of relativity to include gravity • Quantum mechanics (1926): • Replaced causality with probability • Foundation of all modern technology AST 248, Fall 2005