Syllabus

PHYSICS-UA 14 Spring 2017 Professor Peter Nemethy

PHYSICS and ASTRONOMY in the RENAISSANCE

Course Description.

In addition to the magnificent flowering of the arts in the Renaissance, the Renaissance period was also one of extraordinary advance in science, in particular in astronomy and physics. The course will examine this advance, emanating from the scientific developments in the European and Italian centers of learning during the Renaissance and at the start of the Age of Enlightenment, in the light of prior wisdom. The topics will center on the 'Copernican Revolution' of Nicolaus Copernicus, Johannes Kepler, and Galileo Galilei that was the beginning of observational science and astronomy.

The course is a combined science and science-history course, open to all students, including non-science majors, with no prerequisites.

Course Content.

CLASSICAL GREEK ANTECEDENTS

 Alternative theories of the Universe in ancient Greece: Heraclides Philolaus, Heraclides Ponticus, Aristarchus of Samos.  Physics according to Aristotle.  Ptolemy’s “definitive” Treatise on Astronomy: the earth-centered Universe, accepted for 1200 years afterwards.  Its introduction into European thought by way of the Islamic-Arabic translation, the “Almagest”.

THE COPERNICAN REVOLUTION (1473 – 1642): 170 decisive years. The development of observational science in the period of the Renaissance. We will consider the new astronomy and physics, as well the trends of acceptance and especially of resistance in the Italian dominions and in the papal court. This is the central content of the course.

 Nicolaus Copernicus initiates modern astronomy with his Heliocentric model of the universe with the earth orbiting around the sun. His contributions and his visits to Bologna and Rome.  Defensive corrections for the Ptolemeic picture: epicycles upon epicycles.  Results from Tycho Brahe, a superb astronomical observer.  Johannes Kepler’s “Astronomia Nova” with his laws of elliptical planetary motion around our Sun.  Interlude: Leonardo DaVinci, inventor, scientist, engineer.  The great and versatile Galileo Galilei, physicist, mathematician, astronomer, philosopher.  Galileo the inventor: a practical astronomical telescope.  Galileo the physicist: results on the pendulum and on falling objects.  Galileo’s patrons in the Italian dominions and in the papal court.  Observational astronomy, with Galileo’s telescope, of the moons of Jupiter and the phases of Venus rules out the earth at the world’s center.  Galileo’s 1632 “Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems” conclusively establishes the Heliocentric picture.  Galileo and the Inquisition: his trial, his recantation, and a full 300 years to acceptance by the Vatican.  Giordano Bruno, the first cosmologist of an infinite Universe, and his fate, worse than Galileo’s.

CULMINATION and CONCLUSION in the Age of Enlightenment in England.

 Sir Isaac Newton: Physicist, Mathematician, Astronomer, Natural Philosopher, Theologian, and Alchemist. Born in the year of Galileo’s death.  His “Philosphiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica” in 1687.  Newton’s Three Laws of Motion.  Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation.  Mechanics as a predictive science for cannonballs. planets, and apples.  Identical Laws of Mechanics govern Heaven and Earth.

Course Books and Reading:

I. Required Textbook: Michael J. Crowe “Theories of the World from Antiquity to the Copernican Revolution.” Second Revised Edition. Dover Publications 2001. Paperback.

II. Required book: Berthold Brecht “Galileo”, a play. English Version by Charles Laughton. Grove Press, c. 1966. Paperback.

III. Additional reading of single chapters via free downloads from NYU Bobst library “EBRARY” electronic books (choice tbd) => EBR

Approximate Course Schedule, Subjects and Reading.

WEEK OF SUBJECT READING

Jan. 23 Earth, Sun, Moon. Text Ch. 1, 2 Jan. 30 Ancient Greek Astronomy & Math. Text Ch. 2, 3 Feb. 6 “Wisdom”: Ptolemy and his Universe. Text Ch. 4 Feb. 13 Epicyces; success? Text Ch. 5 Lost & found: Greek->Islam->Europe EBR Feb. 20 Presidents Day. Lost & found, cont. EBR

Feb. 27 Copernicus challenge to Ptolemy. Text Ch. 6

Mar. 6 Midterm Exam. Leonardo da Vinci EBR Mar. 13 SPRING RECESS ------Mar. 20 Leonardo & astronomer Tycho Brache. EBR &Text Ch. 7 Mar. 27 Kepler and Elliptical Orbits around Sun. Text Ch. 8 & EBR Apr. 3 Galileo: scientist, astronomer, writer. Text Ch. 9, Brecht April 10 Galileo : patrons, church, society. Text. Ch. 9 Brecht April 17 Cosmos of Giordano Bruno. EBR April 24 Newton and Newton’s Laws of Motion. EBR May 1 Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation. EBR May 8 Last day: Conclusion with modern eyes ----- May 10 -16 Final Exams. Date of Final TBA

Observation session & any museum visit: Will be announced during term if the occasion arises.

Assignments, papers and examinations.

Weekly homework sheets: 8 -12 brief, pointed questions to test your understanding of the science and the logic of the science in this combined Science and History-of-science course. Midterm Exam, week before spring recess: logic, science, and history-of-science. One 10 to 12 page essay, due April 27: history of the science and its context. Final Exam: logic, science, and history-of-science.

Evaluation:

Homework 10%, Midterm 25%, Essay 25%, Final 30%, Participation 10%