Galileo+Galilei+by+Suveer+Sachdev

Galileo Galilei // Category: Science (Physics, Math, Astronomy, Philosophy) //  I, Galileo Galilei, was a certified Italian physicist, mathematician, astronomer and philosopher, who had played a major role in the lives of millions, impacting and changing the beliefs of the solar system. I was born on the 15th of February 1564 in Pisa, Duchy of Florence, Italy, by which I had gained my Italian Nationality. I had studied in the University of Pisa, where I had studied medicine. However, I became enamored with mathematics, thus, decided to make the mathematical subjects and philosophy my profession, against the protests of my father. As a result, I had then begun to prepare myself to teach Aristotelian philosophy and mathematics, and several of my lectures have survived today. Thus, I had left my university, without obtaining a degree, and yet I had started giving private lessons to fellow peers who wanted to learn more complicated physics and mathematics. Soon later, I had applied for the chair of mathematics in the University of Pisa in 1589 and successfully obtained the profession, where I could teach what I had observed in life. Thus, I had started focusing on my movement and motion in the galaxy; hence I found some ingenious theorems on centers of gravity in the earth that brought me recognition and fame among popular mathematicians and the patronage of Guidobaldo Del Monte, who was a nobleman and author of several important works on mechanics. Later on, I had taught gravity to the fellow students in my class, and thus, demonstrated the fact, by dropping bodies of different weights from the top of the famous Leaning Tower; proving that the speed of a heavy object while falling is not proportional to its weight, as Aristotle had claimed. However, this judgment had ended up in an argument between Aristotle and me, causing me to leave the university forever. However, my patrons had assisted me, and finally secured me to the chair of mathematics at the University of Padua, where I had taught my observations and discoveries for a long time. With time, I had retired and worked at home, giving private tuitions to many. I sold a proportional compass of my own development and plan, however, was made by an artisan whom I employed in my house.
 * By Suveer Sachdev 8E**

After a while, I heard that in Netherland, there was a new product, an instrument had been invented which had the ability to show distant things as though they were nearby. As a result, I was inspired by the instrument and needed to figure out how it worked. Thus, by trial and error, I quickly figured out the secret of the invention, hence made my own three-powered spyglass, which I had formed from lenses which were available for sale in spectacle makers' shops. However, other scientists had also figured out the secret, and hence also had created their own spy-glass. But I had figured out how to improve the instrument by myself, as I had also taught myself the art of lens grinding, and hence with that, I had increased and produced immensely powerful telescopes, with the ability to look up in heaven with lenses developed 20 times the power than the original. With this instrument, I had explored the environment beyond the atmosphere of the earth, looking at the planets, noting and making observations and observing them all. I had learnt many things, after a while, I drew the Moon's phases as seen through the telescope, showing that the Moon's surface is not smooth, (which had been announced and taught), but is rough and uneven, proving the Christian Church wrong. Later on, I discovered four new moons, which were revolving around the planet Jupiter. I had named them ‘//The Medicean Stars//’, after the Medici Family, a family which I had tutored for several summers. These discoveries were amazing and earthshaking; hence, I had quickly produced together a little book, //Sidereus Nuncius// (//The Sidereal Messenger//), in which I mentioned them, giving full explanations, descriptions and details. For my discoveries, I was rewarded with an appointment as a mathematician and philosopher of the grand duke of Tuscany, but eventually, I had returned to my native land in triumph.

In addition to the discoveries I made, there were more observations and results analyzed. I had discovered the puzzling appearance of Saturn, which was later shown as a ring surrounding it, and found out that Venus goes through phases too, just as the Moon does. Although these discoveries did not prove that the Earth is a planet orbiting the Sun, they proved the sense of Aristotelian cosmology, which defined as ‘the absolute difference between the corrupt earthly region and the perfect and unchanging heavens was proved wrong by the mountainous surface of the Moon, the moons of Jupiter showed that there had to be more than one centre of motion in the universe, and the phases of Venus showed that it revolves around the Sun.’ Hence, I was confirmed in my belief, which was held for decades, but was with doubt. Thus, I was proven right; that the Sun is the centre of the universe and that the Earth is a planet. However, in this case, the Christian Church had announced that the Earth is the center of the solar system and made everyone believe in it, as anyone who went against the Church would be punished in the terms of committing heresy. I was called in court for the decision of my punishment for the ‘crime’ I committed; as a result, I tried to prove myself innocent enough and as a result, was eventually forced to recant my ‘crime’, and spent the last years of my life under house arrest on orders of the Roman Inquisition. Thus, in my continuing observations, I discovered sunspots on the sun, which I declared as dark, planet-sized regions which appear on the ‘surface’ of the Sun. However, my inquisition and argument wasn’t over yet, Scheiner had argued that the sunspots are satellites of the Sun, as he tried to save the perfection of the Sun in effort. However, the argument was finished when I had cleared to the conclusion that the spots are on or near the Sun’s surface, giving perfect proof, detail and explanations of my observations.

My father, Vincenzo Galilei, was a professional Italian Lutenist, composer, and music theorist; however, he had left the earth on July 2nd, 1591. My younger brother, Michelangelo Galilei, followed the footsteps of my father and had become an Italian composer and lutenist of the late Renaissance and early Baroque eras, mainly active in Bavaria and Poland; yet, the tragedy arrived on January 3rd 1631, when he too, had passed away. I was a father to three children and was married to Marina Gamba. Among my three children, I had one boy and two daughters, who were then sent to the convent where they were to become nuns and hence would not get married. Virginia was the eldest child, who changed her name to Sister Maria Celeste. My second child was Livia, who replaced her original name with Sister Arcangela when she had left to the convent with her sister. Finally, my youngest and only lad, Vincenzo had studied law, and thus became a lutenist, following his grandfather.

The achievements I have accomplished each made a meaningful and lasting impact towards the world, the society, science, and today. Even after my death, (when I aged 78, in 1642), people still respect me. I still remain being called the ‘Father of Modern Observational Astronomy’, the ‘Father of Modern Physics’, the ‘Father of Science’, and the ‘Father of Modern Science’. However, the impacts that my discoveries made had affected millions, leaving a positive impact on the world. It had changed the way the world had thought about the universe, changing the view from the Sun revolving around the Earth, to the Earth revolving around the sun. This was proved by my views of the Medicean Stars which revolved around Jupiter, showing the motion and orbit around the Jupiter, and proving that there must be more than one center of motion in the solar system. Hence, the fact that the Phases in which both the Moon and Venus went through had also given more clues leading to the final conclusion, which had finalized to the confirmation that the Sun was the center of the Solar System, stating that my theory was correct. Thus, nowadays, my achievement had changed the ways people believe about the solar system, now knowing the correct truth, hence having a better understanding about the solar system. People can now make correct and approved graphs, diagrams, models and structures of the solar system, and are able to develop the knowledge of the solar system from the basic idea, which was figured by me. For example, they are able to go out to space now, knowing the secret of the galaxy, and also being safe. As now with this ability they can explore space, figuring out things with actual sight and with the naked eye, analyzing it, and thus, declaring it around the world. As now, it is proven by modern science and astronomy, that Pluto is not a planet, but a dwarf planet, like the other ‘dwarf planets’ found. The others engage some like ‘Eris’, ‘Makemake’, ‘Haumea’, and ‘Ceres’. However, if mankind had thought that the Earth was the center of the universe, they would have judged things much differently, hence created things much differently, and in the end, their lives would be at risk and in danger because of the different plan they had sorted out. They would have planned things based on the fact that the Earth is the center of motion and hence would have got into big trouble in space. As a result, I believe that this development in space has been successful and based on my discovery and achievement; thus, I believe that this particular achievement of mine has impact the world, in science, astronomy, and the rest. My other achievements and discoveries had also impacted the world majorly, including my discovery of gravity, which Isaac Newton explained thoroughly, in detail. It gave the world a better understanding about gravity, what it is, what it does, and why it does it. Hence, with this information the world had a thorough explanation (which was submitted by Newton) about gravity. However, I had expanded on, mentioning that the mass and weight of an object doesn’t matter during the time of a fall. My development of the scope had a major impact on all scientists and astronomers today. They are now able to view space, through the ‘telescope’, just by sitting out at their balcony or windowsill and stare through the telescope into the sky. With this, they were allowed to experience and observe the reality of space, finding out many discoveries and analyzing their observations of the solar system, thus achieving new discoveries.

If I compare myself today to the characteristics of the IB Learner Profile, I would say that I fit into many of those divisions. I would be a good example to fit into the Inquirers and Thinkers category, as I was a physicist, mathematician, astronomer and philosopher, I need to inquire into further details until I have found out what my achievement and goal is. I use my effort to find out the most I can in a particular subject, and thus I analyze the results, ending with proper and precise conclusion. To be a thinker, I would also need to be able to think thoroughly, trying to figure out the puzzle, the answer of something in detail; thus, I would need to reflect a lot in order to get the answer; which would lead me to a concise conclusion to the issue I am working on. I would also consider myself to fit in the Knowledgeable and Risk-Taker’s section as I believe that I was risking my life by going against the church to sell copies of my discovery. Yet I was a risk taker, but failed, thus was ruled under house-arrest for life; only because I wanted to sell the facts about my discovery. I believe that I also represented the knowledgeable area as I had an amazing understanding (I’m not trying to boast. It is true!) of the solar system, ranging from the orbits, to the planets, to the structure and finally to the phases. I believe that I am highly educated in areas like the solar system as it is my interest, combined with all my efforts and I am able to affirm that most of the accomplishments I have succeeded in are successful because of my effort and knowledge about it. If I didn’t have the knowledge of the solar system, I wouldn’t be able to find out all what I have discovered today. Along with the Inquirers, Thinkers, Knowledgeable, and Risk-Taker slots, I also consider that I am approved in the Principled and Open-Minded sections as I was honest, just, ethical, noble, honorable, and decent in everything I did. I never committed a crime, yet was sentenced to a life time of house arrest. However, knowing that I never did anything wrong was fine, as I knew that I didn’t commit heresy and hence was always principled in life. I was innocent and tried to fight for my side for justice in the inquisition, but failed as I didn’t have enough proof, and hereby was judged of committing heresy (in their terms), as it was my fault going against the church. Thus, all my books were banned and subjugated and I couldn’t publish anymore books. However, I was still able to continue my science research and observations. I was Open-Minded as I took in all ideas, and tried to present the world a different solar system, the real truth. I had listened to everyone, judging what they said and as a result, made my decision gradually. I am able to absorb new ideas and am receptive new facts and general information, converting and merging it into my own format, and using it for my own studies. I don’t think I am always right, thus, I keep all ears open for new ideas and prospects to help me if I am not correct. I took everyone’s ideas, considered it, and came to a conclusion many times. Some ideas were positive, which helped me a lot. And some were negative, which didn’t make sense or helped me, but was worth listening to. Overall, I believe that I am a good example of the IB Learner Profile, as I represent many and am going to keep in mind the areas to improve.

** Works Cited ** “Galileo Galilei.” //Crystalinks//. N.p., 23 Dec. 2006. Web. 2 Nov. 2010. . “Sun Spots.” //Windows To Universe//. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Nov. 2010. . Wikipedia Contributors. “Galileo Galilei.” //WIkipedia, The Free Encyclopedia//. Wikimedia Foundations, 30 Oct. 2010. Web. 2 Nov. 2010. . WIkipedia Contributors. “Marina Gamba.” //Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia//. Wikimedia Foundations, 2 Nov. 2010. Web. 3 Nov. 2010. . Wikipedia Contributors. “Planets.” //Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia//. Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Oct. 2010. Web. 2 Nov. 2010. .