EVOLUTION OF PHYSICS - ANCIENT INTERPRETATIONS

Physics is one of the most beautiful gifts of nature, as it is truly ‘natural’ in every sense of the word. Many of the fundamental ideas in physics can be understood simply by carefully observing the world around us. It stands as one of the three principal branches of science, alongside Biology and Chemistry. Physics helps us decode the workings of the universe — pictorially, geometrically, and theoretically.

In this blog series, I will take you on a journey through the evolution of physics and explore how various scientists across different eras contributed to its development. We will cover the ancient, medieval, and modern phases of physics in three separate blogs.

Today, we begin with the ancient notions of physics, tracing the earliest ideas and philosophies that laid the groundwork for this extraordinary field of science.

Let’s get started!

ANCIENT NOTIONS OF PHYSICS

Any idea or concept in Physics is just illogical until it is expressed mathematically. This is clear from Leonardo da Vinci's famous quote,

         ''No human investigations can be called real science if it cannot be demonstrated mathematically.''

It is impudent not to mention the works of ancient Indian mathematicians like Varahamihira, Aryabhata, Bhaskara, Madhava. They played major role in the development of mathematical concepts like trigonometry, arithmetic and number theory. In his famous quote Albert Einstein summarises the contributions made by Indian mathematicians and how it helped in the development of modern science.

“We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made.”

Figure 1: Statue of Aryabhata 

It is worth mentioning the amazing strides in science and mathematics in ancient Greece. More than 3500 miles away from India, in Greece a man named Aristotle was carrying out pioneering advancements in science. Aristotle was one of the first natural scientist, without him we would never have achieved amazing developments in modern science. Though most of his theories are proved to be wrong he still remains one of the greatest Greek philosopher and polymath.

                                                                                                 

Figure 2: Bust of Aristotle

The main reason Aristotle’s theories did not stand the test of time was because his concepts were largely theological, lacking a strong scientific foundation. However, since the ancient Greeks were highly religious, they readily accepted his ideas. Aristotle was even honored with the title ‘Father of Science’.

However, this title now rightfully belongs to the great mathematician and astronomer Galileo Galilei, who challenged many of Aristotle’s theories and played a pivotal role in the development of modern science.

One of the earliest and most widely accepted ideas during ancient times was the belief that the Earth was at the center of the universe, with all other celestial bodies — including the Sun — revolving around it. This concept came to be known as the ‘Geocentric Model of the Universe’.

                                                                        

Figure 3: the Ptolemaic Geocentric model by Portuguese cartographer Bartolomeu Velho

 

However this model of Universe didn't live for long. In the year 1543, a Polish mathematician and astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus published his paper on the Heliocentric Model in which the sun is in the centre of the universe and all other celestial bodies including the Earth revolved around it in 'circular orbits'.

Figure 4: Nicolaus Copernicus, the hero (you can observe the heliocentric model of the universe in the picture)

But poor Copernicus had to face a lot of criticism for going against the age old concept of 'Geocentrism'.  Johannes Kepler would modify Copernicus's idea by stating that Sun is in the centre of the universe and all the celestial bodies revolved around the sun in 'elliptical orbits'.

THE HIDDEN HAND BEHIND COPERNICUS' REVOLUTION

It was the year 1543 — the dawn of a quiet revolution in science. An aging astronomer, Nicolaus Copernicus, had just completed his life’s work, a book titled “De Revolutionises Erbium Coelestium” — On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres.

Figure 5: Heliocentric Model of Universe, you can observe the Sun at the centre

As the manuscript was prepared for printing, a quiet hand slipped into the process — a theologian named Andreas Osiander. Without Copernicus’ permission or knowledge, Osiander wrote a preface to the book, twisting its meaning before it even reached the public. In this unauthorized introduction, Osiander claimed that Copernicus’ heliocentric theory was not meant to describe reality, but was merely a mathematical tool — a convenient trick for making astronomical calculations easier.

For years, readers believed this disclaimer came from Copernicus himself, and so the radical power of his idea was dulled. What could have been a bold declaration of scientific truth was softened into a harmless exercise in geometry — all to protect the ancient Aristotelian worldview.

By the time the truth came to light, it was too late for Copernicus to defend himself — he had died shortly after his book was published. Yet, his ideas could not be silenced forever. A new generation of scientists — Galileo, Kepler, and later Newton — would uncover the hidden power within Copernicus' pages, finally unshackling astronomy from ancient errors.

REFERENCES:

1. Wikimedia Commons

- Statue of Aryabhata

- Aristotle's bust

- Ptolemaic Geocentric Model

- Nicolaus Copernicus and Heliocentric Model

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