GALILEO GALILEI

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GALILEO GALILEI

• a brief biographical sketch by
• Carl J. Wenning

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Galileo Galilei

• Italian astronomer and physicist
• Born Pisa, February 15, 1564
• Died Arcetri (near Florence), January 8, 1642.

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Most notable accomplishments

• Invention of the telescope
• Astronomical observations used to supplant
  Ptolemaic world system
• First empirical physicist

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Trouble with the Church

• Deposed Aristotelian view of cosmos
• Showed Platonic world view incorrect
• Blemished sun
• Cratered moon
• Sun-centered cosmos
• Argued observation must take precedent over
  theory
• Got in trouble for publishing Dialogue of Two
  Chief World Systems

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Overlooked Contributions to PHY

• Laws of motion
• 1st law (dual incline)
• 2nd law (motion w/out force)
• The distance that an object falls goes as a
  function of t2
• Vector addition
• Law of simple pendulums
• Thermometry
• Empiricism

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Empiricism

• Observational evidence must be given priority
  over theoretical constructs event if it
  contradicts common sense perceptions
• Heavier objects fall faster than lighter objects.
• Objects (such as planets and arrows) need a
  constant force to keep them in motion.