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The Origin of
Modern Astronomy
Introduced by
2. Uniform motion.
Planets move around the sun on elliptical paths,
with non-uniform velocities.
Keplers Laws of
Planetary Motion
1. The orbits of the planets are ellipses with the
sun at one focus.
Eccentricity e = c/a
Eccentricities of Ellipses
1)
2)
e = 0.02
3)
e = 0.1
e = 0.2
5)
4)
e = 0.4
e = 0.6
Galileo Galilei
(1594 1642)
Introduced the modern view of
science: Transition from a
faith-based science to an
observation-based science.
Greatly improved on the newly
invented telescope technology.
(But Galileo did NOT invent the
telescope!)
Was the first to meticulously
report telescope observations of
the sky to support the Copernican
model of the universe.
Major discoveries
of Galileo (I):
Moons of Jupiter
(4 Galilean moons)
Rings of Saturn
Historical Overview
Major achievements:
1. Invented calculus as a necessary tool to solve
mathematical problems related to motion
2. Discovered the three laws of motion
3. Discovered the universal law of mutual gravitation
F=-G
Mm
r2
Dv
v
Moon
F
Earth
The Tides
Caused by the
difference of the
moons gravitational
attraction on the water
on Earth
Forces are
balanced at the
center of Earth
Excess gravity pulls
water towards the
moon on the near side
Excess centrifugal
force pushes water
away from the moon
on the far side
2 tidal maxima
12-hour cycle
Spring tides
Neap tides