Select one of the people described below - Junior Cycle History - Question 4 A (iii) - 2015

For this question, I will write about Galileo Galilei, an Italian astronomer, physicist, and engineer, often regarded as the father of modern science.

Background

Galileo was born on February 15, 1564, in Pisa, Italy. He is most famous for his contributions to the scientific revolution in the 17th century, and his work laid the foundation for modern physics and observational astronomy.

Key Contributions

1. Improvements to the Telescope: Galileo made significant advancements in telescope design, allowing for improved celestial observations. He increased the magnification and constructed a telescope capable of observing distant celestial bodies.

2. Astronomical Discoveries: Using his improved telescope, Galileo made several groundbreaking discoveries, including the moons of Jupiter (Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto), which he referred to as the Medicean Stars. This challenged the geocentric model of the universe, which placed Earth at the center.

3. The Heliocentric Model: Galileo supported the Copernican theory that the Earth and other planets revolve around the Sun, contrary to the widely accepted Ptolemaic geocentric view. His observations provided strong evidence for this theory.

Publication and Controversy

Galileo’s findings were published in the book "Dialogo sopra i due massimi sistemi del mondo" (Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems), which led to significant controversy with the Catholic Church. Eventually, he was tried by the Inquisition and placed under house arrest for his views.

Legacy

Galileo is remembered as a pivotal figure in the history of science. His insistence on using experimentation and mathematics to explain natural phenomena set the stage for future scientists. His work in physics and astronomy continues to inspire and inform modern scientific disciplines.