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→Galileo's evidences for the Copernican model
[[Image:Galileo....jpg|left|120px]]
[[Image:Galileo....jpg|left|120px]]
Galileo tested [[Aristotle]]'s theory that heavy objects fall faster than light ones and found it was a consequence of air resistance, not [[gravity]]. By making careful measurements he found he could use mathematics to measure the acceleration of gravity and predict the movements of [[pendulum]]s and tides.
Galileo tested [[Aristotle]]'s theory that heavy objects fall faster than light ones and found it was a consequence of air resistance, not [[gravity]]. By making careful measurements he found he could use mathematics to measure the acceleration of gravity and predict the movements of [[pendulum]]s and tides.
One of Galileo's most well-known and important discoveries was that of the evidences for heliocentrism. Galileo's two main evidences in this respect both came from the ability of his telescope to carefully examine the heavens: the moons of Jupiter and the shadows on the face of Venus. Both of these provided strong evidence against geocentrism (at the time this doctrine was not simply limited to the earth's being the center of the universe, but also that no extraterrestrial orbits existed). <ref> David Filkin, "Stephen Hawking's Universe", David Filkin Enterprises Limited, 1997, pg.44 - 46</ref>
Galileo got approval from Rome to write his book ''Dialogue on the Tides'', which discussed both the Ptolemaic and Copernican hypotheses, as long as it discussed both systems and did not draw a conclusion that would make the heliocentric world view be viewed as fact instead of theory. Rome changed the title to ''Dialogue on the Two Chief World Systems'' and it was published in Florence in 1632. Unfortunately for Galileo, the work was not made to be evenhanded. Indeed, the Ptolemaic character, called 'Simplicius' often stumbled over his own errors and seemed quite foolish. Galileo had moved out of bounds and even his name 'Simplicius' seemed designed to embarrass the Church. The Church felt they had made themselves clear. At a different time, the reaction might have been different, but it was in the middle of the [[30 years war]], the most deadly war in Europe ever fought between Catholics and Protestants, and embarrassing one side could result in the loss in life. Galileo claimed approval by the Church for his entire work, and that was simply false. It would be analogous today to someone speaking in the name of an organization in a way that embarrasses it, and the result is typically the same: the person is promptly fired and, if the harm is serious, often prosecuted. Put another way, Galileo's act was treasonous at a time of war. The Catholic Church felt compelled at a time of crisis to clarify its authority. At no time was there any claim of papal infallibility; this was a matter of misrepresentation of the Church's position.
Galileo got approval from Rome to write his book ''Dialogue on the Tides'', which discussed both the Ptolemaic and Copernican hypotheses, as long as it discussed both systems and did not draw a conclusion that would make the heliocentric world view be viewed as fact instead of theory. Rome changed the title to ''Dialogue on the Two Chief World Systems'' and it was published in Florence in 1632. Unfortunately for Galileo, the work was not made to be evenhanded. Indeed, the Ptolemaic character, called 'Simplicius' often stumbled over his own errors and seemed quite foolish. Galileo had moved out of bounds and even his name 'Simplicius' seemed designed to embarrass the Church. The Church felt they had made themselves clear. At a different time, the reaction might have been different, but it was in the middle of the [[30 years war]], the most deadly war in Europe ever fought between Catholics and Protestants, and embarrassing one side could result in the loss in life. Galileo claimed approval by the Church for his entire work, and that was simply false. It would be analogous today to someone speaking in the name of an organization in a way that embarrasses it, and the result is typically the same: the person is promptly fired and, if the harm is serious, often prosecuted. Put another way, Galileo's act was treasonous at a time of war. The Catholic Church felt compelled at a time of crisis to clarify its authority. At no time was there any claim of papal infallibility; this was a matter of misrepresentation of the Church's position.