Galileo Galilei and the Scientific Revolution

Life of Galileo Galilei

Galileo Galilei is a scientist and mathematician born in Italy on February 15, 1564. Galileo, whose father was a music teacher, began studying medicine at the University of Florence. However, later he became interested in mathematics and physics and decided to pursue studies in these fields.
Galileo took a great interest in studying the motion and properties of objects on Earth. In 1609, he invented a large telescope and used it to observe the moons of Jupiter and the mountains of the Moon. As a result of these observations, he found evidence supporting the idea that the universe is heliocentric. However, Galileo's ideas were perceived as a threat by the Church authorities of the time. The church defended the accepted earth-centered model of the universe at the time, and Galileo's heliocentric model was considered unacceptable because it would lead to questioning of church dogmas.
In 1633, Galileo was tried by the church and sentenced to house arrest for defending the heliocentric model in his work "Dialogue on Two Circuits". This event represents the period when science and free thought were under church pressure. During Galileo's imprisonment, he was limited to pen and paper to continue his scientific work. However, during this time, he made entertaining discoveries through experiments with his wrist. For example, he conducted experiments in which he measured the oscillation time of a swinging lamp. Galileo passed away in 1642, but his contributions to science and humanity will be remembered forever. His work is considered a key figure of the Scientific Revolution and made major contributions to the foundations of modern science.

Astronomical Discoveries of Galileo Galilei

Galileo Galilei is recognized as a key figure of the scientific revolution, and his important discoveries in astronomy have become one of the foundations of modern science. Galileo's observations and discoveries questioned the Aristotelian thought accepted at the time and created a new scientific paradigm.

• Discovery of the Telescope: Galileo developed and discovered the telescope to use it in his observations in the field of astronomy. He produced his first telescope in 1609 and thanks to this discovery, he was able to observe more distant celestial objects in detail. A series of observations he made with his telescope challenged the geocentric (with the Earth at the center) model, which was accepted at the time, and supported the accuracy of Copernicus' heliocentric (with the Sun at the center) model.

• Detailed Investigations on the Surface of the Moon: Using his telescope, Galileo managed to look at the surface of the Moon closer than ever before. He made detailed observations about the mountains, craters and wrinkles of the Moon and shared these observations in his work "Sidereus Nuncius", published in 1610. These observations revealed that the Moon was not a perfect and unchanging sphere and supported the idea that the universe was not "perfect."

• Discovery of Jupiter's Moons: Using his telescope, Galileo discovered four moons orbiting Jupiter. He observed these satellites for the first time in 1610 and proved that other planets in the Solar System other than Earth could also have satellites. This discovery questioned the Aristotelian idea that the Earth was not the only center of the universe and supported Copernicus' heliocentric model.

• Illumination of Venus: Galileo observed the different phases of the planet Venus using his telescope. These observations showed that Venus's illumination varies as it orbits the Sun. This was presented as evidence for a heliocentric system and contributed to the questioning of Aristotelian thought. These astronomical discoveries made by

Galileo Galilei shook the scientific thoughts of his time and laid the foundations of a new understanding. Galileo advocated the scientific method based on observation and experimentation and made significant contributions to understanding the true nature of the universe. His discoveries are considered a major turning point in the advancement of the scientific revolution.

Scientific Contributions of Galileo Galilei

Galileo Galilei is one of the most important figures of science and observation-based approach. His works pushed the boundaries of his age and initiated an era full of new discoveries and scientific principles. Here are the important contributions of Galileo Galilei in the scientific field:

• Establishment of Kepler's Laws: Based on the observations of Tycho Brahe, Galileo contributed to the laws of Johannes Kepler, which explained the motions of the Solar System in a strictly mathematical manner. Galileo played an important role because he discovered the accuracy of Kepler's laws and challenged the widely accepted Aristotelian astronomy.

• Laws of Motion: One of Galilei's greatest contributions is his studies on the motion of objects. Galileo demonstrated how objects move under the influence of gravity through his free fall experiments and their movements on inclined planes. These studies laid the foundations of the laws of motion known today.

• Galileo Telescope: Galileo revolutionized the field of astronomy with his observations of the sky using the telescope. By improving the telescope, he discovered the moons of Jupiter, the phases of Venus and the surface of the Moon. These observations enabled Galileo to provide evidence in favor of the Copernican system, a heliocentric model of the universe.

• Gravity Concept: Galileo also made important contributions to the gravitational force. Free fall experiments have shown that objects fall at the same speed due to the effect of gravity and are not related to the time it takes to fall to the ground. These experiments formed the basis for Isaac Newton's formulation of the laws of gravity.

• Establishment of the Scientific Method: Galileo emphasized the importance of the scientific method based on experiment and observation. He systematically recorded his observations, made his experiments repeatable, and tried to prove their accuracy mathematically. This approach is considered to be the basis of the modern scientific method.

These important contributions of Galileo Galilei transformed science and inspired other scientists to develop new theories. His works marked the triumph of science and rationality.

Works of Galileo Galilei

Galileo Galilei is considered a leading figure in the scientific revolution and is known for his important work in a variety of fields. Below is a look at some of Galileo Galilei's most important works:

• "Sidereus Nuncius" (Star Messenger): This work, published in 1610, contains the astronomical observations made by Galileo through a telescope. This work caused great excitement by revealing the existence of craters and Da Vinci channels on the Moon. He also states that he discovered the four major moons of Jupiter (Jupiter's lunar system).

• "Dialogo sopra i due massimisistemi del mondo" (Dialogue Concerning the Two Great Systems of the World): This work was published in 1632 and is written in the format of a dialogue in which Galileo addresses the conflict between the Ptolemaic and Copernican models. This work increased the tension between the Church and scientific thought, resulting in Galileo being blocked and imprisoned by the Holy Office.

• "Discorsi e Dimostrazioni Matematiche, intorno a due nuove scienze attinenti alla meccanica e movimenti locali" (Mathematical Proofs and Discussions of Two New Sciences - Mechanics and Local Motion): This work, published in 1638, is an important contribution to the field of physics and mechanics. Galileo covers basic physics topics such as falling motion and the law of the square of the radius.

• "Il Saggiatore" (The Analyst): This work was published in 1623 and emphasizes the importance of scientific methods. Galileo also shares his thoughts about the phenomena of light and shadow.

• "Lettera a Cristina di Lorena" (Letter to Christina of Lorraine): In this letter addressed to the Holy Roman Empress Christina of Lorraine, Galileo argues that science should be associated with the church and that scientific facts are superior to dogmatic belief. This letter was written to encourage the free advancement of science. These works of

Galileo Galilei had a great impact on the academic, religious and intellectual thoughts of the period. Galileo's observations and studies inspired a number of discoveries and theories that laid the foundations of modern science.

Galileo Galilei's Prison Sentence and Later Years

Galileo Galilei was sentenced to prison by the Catholic Church in 1633. During this period, he was found guilty because of his opposition to the Church and the ideas he put forward in the field of cosmology. One of the main reasons why Galileo went to prison was because he defended Copernicus' heliocentric model of the universe.
This model was in contrast to the model known as the Princely Holy Church, which was not accepted by the Church. After his prison sentence, Galileo was sentenced to house arrest. During this period, he encountered a number of prohibitions and restrictions imposed on him by the Church. These include activities such as publishing his works, educating students and continuing scientific studies.
However, Galileo's house arrest did not hinder his scientific work. Even in the last periods of his life, he made many important discoveries and studies. After his prison sentence, Galileo published his work "Two New Scientific Movements". This book provides an in-depth analysis of the celestial mechanics he masters. It also highlights the importance of studying the real world using experimental methods. This work made a significant contribution to the development of scientific thought and further strengthened Galileo's influence on the scientific revolution.

Galileo Galilei continued to educate many students and continued his scientific studies after his prison sentence. In particular, it played a role in strengthening the bond between education and science. In his last years, he made advances in the use of telescopes and discovered four moons of Jupiter. Galileo's imprisonment and subsequent years reflect his courage and dedication to scientific progress. His ideas and discoveries, which were tried to be suppressed by the church, had a great impact on the scientific world in later periods.

Source: Lewis, A. (2009). Prison Life of Galileo Galilei. History Today, 59(7), 34-39. Redondi, P. (1998). Galileo Galilei and the Church. The University of Chicago Press.

The Influence and Immortalization of Galileo Galilei

Galileo Galilei is a scientist who became the symbol of science and freedom of thought. His works and the ideas he defended attracted attention and attracted the attention of the society because they contradicted the accepted ideas of his time. Therefore, Galileo's influence lasted for a long time and became immortal. Scientific Contributions One of Galileo Galilei's most important contributions is the scientific method based on observation and experiments. At that time, science was based mostly on theoretical ideas and was consoled by the explanations of authority figures. However, Galileo argued that we could reveal the truth by using his observations and experiments. This scientific approach has had a revolutionary impact on the scientific world and formed the basis of developments in science. Galileo's work in astronomy also had a great impact. By observing with the telescope he developed, he obtained important findings about the functioning of the universe. For example, his discoveries, such as depressions on the Moon's surface and the existence of Jupiter's moons, challenged the idea of ​​the earth at the center of the universe and supported Copernicus' heliocentric theory, based on his heliocentric system. This was a challenge to the church and the authorities, and due to Galileo's influence, it created a huge ripple effect in the scientific world.