Galileo's Diary (Physics Assignment)

Diary Entry 1

Dear Diary,

It is I, Galileo Galilei.

My name is Galileo Galilei. I was born on February 15th, 1564, in Pisa, Italy. I am a mathematics professor who observes nature in order to discover more of the physics world. I for one support the Heliocentric model, particularly referring to Nicholas Copernicus'. I would like to share my thoughts and findings about the Earth and its surrounding planets and stars in my next couple of diary entries. I am the first astronomer to make observations of the night sky using a telescope. I did not invent the telescope, however I was the first to observe celestial objects and record my discoveries. My findings ultimately led to the demise of the geocentric Ptolemaic model of the universe and the adoption of a heliocentric model as proposed in 1543 by Copernicus. 

Diary Entry 2

Dear Diary,
In these diary entries I would like to discuss the telescope, the Geocentric and Heliocentric model, as well as my thoughts about them, current theories about the universe and evidence for it, limitations with technology available for me and things I would have done differently if I had such advanced technology. 
Geocentric models place the Earth at the centre of the Universe, and has everything orbiting it. Heliocentric models place the Sun at the centre of the Solar System, and has the planets in the milky way orbiting it. 

Geocentric model

Heliocentric model         

My findings has convinced me to support Copernicus in the Heliocentric model. I will go further into the evidence that has been found to support this model. My observations conflicted with the model of Claudius Ptolemy, and supported the Heliocentric idea of Nicholas Copernicus.

Diary Entry 3

Dear Diary,
The current theories and ideas about the Universe now accepts the Heliocentric theory. In November 1609, I pointed my improved telescope with 20x magnification to the moon for the first time. From November to December of that year, I decided to further study the moon and I recorded all my observations and sketches in my book Sidereus Nuncius. I noticed small dark spots that had never been seen before on the bright part of the moon's surface, along with similar light spots in the dark area. I observed that as time passed, these spots changed, either getting lighter and eventually disappearing or getting darker and more distinct. The interface between the light and dark sides of the moon was rough and uneven, rather than smooth as would be expected on a perfectly smooth sphere. This went against Aristotelianism which suggested that the "heavens were perfect" such as the moon, etc.

My drawings of the phases of the moon.

I then studied Jupiter. At first, I saw next to Jupiter what I first thought to be stars, however I discovered they were moons. I then realized that these moons were orbiting Jupiter, and this negated a major argument of the Ptolemaic model. Not only did this prove that Earth was not the centre of the Universe, but it challenged another argument too. The believers of the Ptolemaic model believed that if Earth were moving through space, the moon would be left behind. My observations proved that Jupiter's moons did not get left behind, however stayed orbiting around Jupiter.

My drawing of the Moons of Jupiter of successive nights.

Also, in 1610, by using a telescope I had discovered that Venus has phases very much like our moon. Venus has phases based on the planet’s position relative to us and the Sun. There was no way for the Ptolemaic model to account for these phases. They can only occur as I saw them if Venus is circling the Sun, not the Earth. This gives enough evidence for me to support Copernicus on his Heliocentric model. 












Diary Entry 4


Dear Diary,
The heliocentric theory is considered controversial because it goes against Catholic biblical interpretation that the Earth was in the centre of the Universe. I was imprisoned for my beliefs only due to the fact that they were different. If I weren't so limited to the amount of technology, then maybe people would have believed me. My time does not consist of a outer space telescope that would orbit Earth. Maybe the theory of the Heliocentric model would have been accepted easier with such advanced technology, however I am limited to a telescope fitted into simple wooden tubes just a few feet long, with a one and a half inch lens displayed in an omate frame, made in 1609. If I had such advanced technology, I would send telescopes and machines to space to capture images as evidence to support the Heliocentric model. 

My first telescope

Advanced Space Telescope (Hubble)

Diary Entry 5

Dear Diary,
A disadvantage of the Heliocentric model was that it was not accurate enough. It was just a model after all and was not supported by evidence enough at the time it was proposed. Also, it was not philosophically pleasing. The community was not really into accepting the truth, especially since the Church is powerful and they believed in the Geocentric model. 

Diary Entry 6

Dear Diary,
This will be my last diary entry on the mini series of exploring the heliocentric theory and astronomy. To summarize, the geocentric and heliocentric theories were looked at and analysed, my evidence for the Heliocentric theory to back up Copernicus, my telescopes and limitations that stopped me from going into further detail in research. I am Galileo Galilei, and this was my diary.

Biblography:

- Wu & Farr, XW RF, 2012. Physics in Focus. 1st ed. WF: Xiao L. Wu, Robert Farr.

- Galileo's Considerations on the Copernican Opinion (1615) . 2014. Galileo's Considerations on the Copernican Opinion (1615) . [ONLINE] Available at:https://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/it/galileo.htm. [Accessed 25 August 2014].

-  Galileo Galilei Biography 2014. . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.biography.com/people/galileo-9305220#synopsis. [Accessed 25 August 2014].

- The Galileo Controversy | Catholic Answers. 2014. The Galileo Controversy | Catholic Answers. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.catholic.com/tracts/the-galileo-controversy. [Accessed 25 August 2014].

- heliocentric. 2014. heliocentric. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.vibrationdata.com/space/helio.html. [Accessed 25 August 2014].