Astronomy- A Historical Saga: Part 4

4

Einstein: Who Shaped the Modern Physics

Welcome to the age, where science rules every sphere of life- Modern age. This age started in early 20^th century. Between Newton and Einstein, there had been no important researches on astronomy, which can be highlighted. So, from the period Newton’s death to Einstein’s birth (1727-1879), astronomy-science was in hibernation.

Albert Einstein; we all honor him as one of the greatest scientists of time. He was devoted to Newton’s laws. But there was something wrong! Newton’s concept is at average works everywhere, but it can’t explain some particular incidents specifically. Scientific method was developed in late 19^th century. According to this new method, a theory that fails to explain a specific incident; is thrown to trash. So, Newton’s researches were trashed in order to establish another revolution- The Einstein-revolution; A controversy of ages.

Einstein reached a new decision- the relativity. It’s a theory, which supports almost no constants. Everything is variable according to it. Einstein himself became an epic legend!

Einstein declined the theory of gravity. He thought of a universal structure, where space-time itself, is geodesic. He assembled all the space, time, mass and physical motions in a single theory. There is no absolute space, or absolute time. Universe is neither infinite nor limited. There is nothing beyond its volume.

Equation that changed our view forever.

. It’s Einstein’s most famous creation which shows that, energy and mass is in fact, the same. One is transformable to another.

In 1910 and 20s, Einstein published his researches, including the both parts of the relativity theory- General theory of Relativity and Special theory of relativity. Einstein achieved Noble prize in physics in 1921 for his research on law of photoelectric effect.

Einstein’s concept required a new kind of view. There also required a new type of geometry, where the summation of tree angle of a triangle is not equal to zero!

According to Einstein’s concept, mass bends space-time, and even, it slows down the speed of light! Parallels meet at a point. And even, many postulates and corollaries of Euclidian geometry are declined by this geodesic mathematical system. Universe is not flat as Newton thought. But it is more complex in structure that, no scientists had thought about it ever before Einstein.

Relativity: Mass bends Space-time Fabric

Einstein’s theory successfully explained the fluctuation of the orbits of the planets and their moons. The tip of Mercury often fluctuates. The following theory also explained that.

Einstein’s universe is expanding. But once, he did a big mistake. He couldn’t believe that universe can expand. He was influenced by the traditional constant-universe concept and created a constant. It is called Einstein’s gravitational constant. This didn’t support his theory. Later, when Edwin P Hubble observed the space and found that the universe is open and expanding; Einstein declared his constant as the greatest mistake of his life.

Einstein and his works are hard to describe in words. There are many funny stories about him in public. This great scientist died on 1955.

Astronomy- A Historical Saga: Part 3.3.5

3.5

Sir Isaac Newton

The Catholics won seemingly, by ending the ‘Galileo’ chapter. But actually, science was going to win. The Copernican revolution was about to fulfill. There was much evidence for the sun-centered world-model. But there was a gap somewhere! Yes, we’re talking about the force, for which satellites move around their mother planets, and the planets move around their mother stars. And this is where a new legend comes by turn- Isaac Newton.

He was born at the end of the same year when Galileo died, in a village called Willsthorp in England.

Gravity- if something goes up, it comes back down. A theory that made a revolution! Isaac Newton explained everything in terms of gravity. Therefore, Newton is considered as one of the greatest scientists of all time.

Newton was an amazing person. Aldus Huxly said- “He was futile as a human, but was superior as a monster.” This quote proves how strange and interesting fellow Newton was. A theory which was beyond the imagination of Kepler and Galileo, Newton shaped it in mathematical terms.

Aristotle divided the world in two regions- first one is the polluted region under the moon, and other is the holy (!) region at the other side of the moon. Newton canceled this division, and established the base of ‘The Copernican Universe System’.

Newton’s theory and laws are so easy to understand that even today; we count them as the basis of physics. Though, the modern basis of physics is created by Albert Einstein, but very few people understand it.

Gravitational theory, Laws of motion, Laws of conservation of momentum etc- we all know about these. Newton’s laws still works today while a car running on the road, or a lawn-roller is pushed or pulled, or marbles hits one another etc.

Newton was very talented. He invented Calculus when he was 23 or 25, while he was a student of Cambridge University. He became world’s one of the greatest mathematician in that age!

Philosphia Naturalis Principia Mathematica

Newton was aversion to publicity. He kept inventing amazing things and kept those writing in his handbook. He averted from publishing those researches. At the age of 41, he started to write a book in request of his friend- Edmund Halley. It was his greatest creation- Philosphia Naturalis Principia Mathematica. This book was published in 1687.

In 1666, plague broke out and Newton went to his village, leaving Cambridge. It is said that- one day he was sitting under a tree and saw an apple falling from a branch. He questioned himself- the force which made the apple fall, isn’t it also pulling the moon? Thus, gravity was discovered; a force that keeps everything attracting towards each other, and vice-versa. Everything in cosmos attracts each other. . And also, gravitation is that force which makes everything move in the universe.

In 1727, Newton died. Our solar system was almost discovered. But that’s not the point. Newton’s laws work everywhere in the galaxy. Even today, all physical incidents are explained by those terms.

Astronomy- A Historical Saga: Part 3.3.4

3.4

Galileo Galilee

This is a story of religious blindness versus scientific truth. History is very rude, reality is hard. Though, sometimes time gives birth to some great humans who leaves their footprint on the planet forever. Galileo is one of those.

In need of time, Galileo Galilee was born in February 15, 1564 in Italy, just a day later Valentine. He is the great astronomer who constructed the base of modern science. His contribution to science is unforgettable. He born before Kepler and also lived after Kepler.

Cover:
Dialogo sopra i due massimi sistemi

He shocked the world very hardly which affected the system so deeply which we still feel today. Galileo is a name of revolution, an icon of modern astronomy. It is said that, Galileo dropped a light and a heavy object together from the Pisa’s temple and showed that different masses fall with same acceleration. He innovated the scientific method of modern research.

He fought against the religious blindness all his life. Galileo’s parents wanted him to study medical science. But medical-study never attracted his curious mind because, yet medical was taught according to Galen’s book which was 1500 years old method. And though, Catholics did not allow any kind of dissection. That’s why Galileo left medical study and started studying mathematics and inventing small things by himself.

At the age of 25 he was employed as a lecturer of mathematics in Pisa where he taught astronomy, poetry and mathematics. After some years he had to leave that post too and got a new post in Padua University in Venice. Giordano Bruno was another candidate of same post. It was 1592 when Galileo came to Padua.

Giordano Bruno

Galileo was in Padua for 18 years. In that period he wrote, lectured, experimented, invented scientific instruments included thermometer. He had suffered a lot for family issues such as his two sisters’ marriage; he had to pay a big amount of dowry. He also had given some money to his brother who was a singer.

At the age of 45 he became famous as a scientist. In 1609, Galileo came to know that a man in Holland made an instrument with glass, through which things can be seen magnified. At once, he collected some lenses and made his very own telescope, an instrument which unlocked a new era of astronomy. Galileo is the first human ever been who saw more far in the sky than ever before. He observed the sky and recorded what he seen. 1609 and 1610, in this two years he discovered so many things in the sky.

Galileo observed our satellite Moon and its nature, Mars and its satellites’ nature. He discovered the 4 satellites of Jupiter out of its 16 satellites. He differentiated between Planets and their moon or satellites. The breakdown of old doctrines about astronomy occurred, when Galileo saw that all the planets he discovered are moving around the sun and all the moons are moving around their mother planets. He came to decision that, our earth is not beyond this nature. In a moment, all the theories of Aristotle and related earth-centered universe concepts started to fall apart. Galileo also observed the phases of Moon and Venus. It became clear that, Venus also moves around the sun.

In 1610, Galileo published his book Sidereus Nuncius where he included all his observations. This book made him more famous. In 1611, Galileo went to Rome and lectured and made many fans and foes. Galileo continued his research against all odds. He discovered solar-spot on sun’s surface. In 1613, he published another book on this ‘solar-spot’ matter.

Cover: Sidereus Nuncius

The war between blind religions and liberal science started in 1616. Galileo liked debating which is awful for religions. In 1624, Galileo started to write a book on Copernican concept in which he wanted to highlight that Copernicus was right. After getting permission of religious authority, the book was at last published in 1632. The name of this epic book is Dialogo sopra i due massimi sistemi, in English it’s called- Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems.

After releasing the book, Catholics called Galileo in Rome. Galileo admitted his guilt (!). The authority that burnt Bruno alive sentenced Galileo imprisonment for life. He wasn’t put in jail; rather he was imprisoned in his own house in Florence. He never left research, though. He wrote another book in prison- Two New Sciences. Before becoming blind in 1637, he kept researching. His daughter Merry Celeste read expiatory verses seven times every day. After becoming blind Galileo said- “The universe, which I made a million times bigger, today, it became as small as my body.”

The great scientist who trigged a new era of science, who wanted every human scientific-minded, who gave birth to a new scientific doctrine, died in January 8, 1642.