EVOLUTION OF PHYSICS - ANCIENT INTERPRETATIONS

Physics is one of the most beautiful gifts of nature as it is 'natural' in all sense of the word. We can conceive most of the ideas in Physics just by carefully observing the nature around us.  It is one of the three principal branches of science, the other two being Biology and Chemistry. Physics helps us to understand the world around us pictorially, geometrically and theoretically.

Today I am going to present to you all, the 'evolution of Physics' and how different scientists contributed to its success. We will be covering the ancient, medieval and modern notions of physics in three different blogs. Today I am going to introduce the 'ancient notions of physics.'

So 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 (a polymath is a person who is well versed in various subjects/topics).

                                                                                                 

Figure 2: Aristotle

The main reason why his theories didn't stand for long was because his concepts where more theological and did not have a scientific aspect associated with it. And since the ancient Greeks were highly religious they readily accepted his theories. He was later titled, 'the Father of Science' . This title now rightfully belongs to the great mathematician Galileo Galilei who criticised many of Aristotle's theories and played a major role in the development of modern science.

One of the early prevailing idea which spread around the world was that the Earth was at the centre of universe and all other celestial bodies including the sun revolved around it, this concept is referred to 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'. But for the great minds who succeeded him like Kepler, Galileo and Newton, his theory is different and would in turn help them to develop their own theories on cosmos. 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'.

                                                                   

                                                               

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

''I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses.''

                                            

-Johannes Kepler

Picture Credits:

1. Wikimedia Commons

- Statue of Aryabhata

- Aristotle's bust

- Ptolemaic Geocentric Model

- Nicolaus Copernicus and Heliocentric Model