Galileo: Sun-Centered System

Galileo: Sun-Centered System
EXPLAIN
    Galileo's discovery of our Heliocentric (Sun-centered) planetary system challenged traditional knowledge at the time because it stated the earth was not the center of the universe, and that there were imperfections in the created heavens. In Galileo’s time challenging the traditional knowledge meant challenging God and the layperson of his day could not even contemplate such an atrocity.
    Traditional knowledge sometimes can become an obstacle to better understanding when there are religious values involved. Even today, there is strong religious influence in our national politics and moral issues in values and science, e.g. embryonic cell research. I can only guess at the demons almost everyone associated with Galileo!


EXTEND
    Using careful observation made available by “new technology” Galileo was ale to not only chart the movement of Venus, but also its changing shapes. He systematically charted and drew his observations of Venus and of other heavenly body movements. Presenting this quantitative evidence, Galileo was able to argue the Copernican theory and defend his heliocentric theory.  Galileo’s findings showed how things were connected through his systematic approach when gathering evidence and careful drawings.

String Theory: A Strange New World
EXPLAIN
    Einstein challenged traditional knowledge by suggesting gravity and electromagnetism travel at the same speed. He challenged our long held truths purported by Newton about the laws of gravity. He believed a unifying force, which he longed to discover, held everything together.
        (I’m not really sure how Einstein demonstrated that everything is connected, but I’ll take a stab at it.) He knew that gravity depended upon the movement, mass, and position of everything in the universe – nothing is isolated or can be isolated and maintain itself. One thing exists and because of this, it has an effect upon everything else.


EXPLAIN
     Space missions and satellites helped integrate the sciences and shape the way we understand our planet by providing close up pictures and exposing data over time. Storm patterns have been, and can be, tracked. Temperature fluctuations and the over all impact from this can also be traced and graphed with correlating implications for the planet. We now have a more complete composite picture of our planet and just how fragile it is because of space missions and satellites.
     Many different pathways for the flow of matter and energy drive Earth’s System(s).  It seems heat is at the catalysis for setting all of them in motion. Heat is absorbed in the atmosphere, water, and land. Heat escapes from earth’s core creating volcanoes and earthquakes. All of this infusion of heat affects weather, temperature, and life on earth. It is all connected.


EXTEND
    Our growing understanding of Earth as a System has changed our view of the world and our place in it by making us see just how small we really are, while at the same time just what an impact we can make on our systems. We have the power to eliminate ourselves through pollution, over harvesting, pesticides, over population, disease. So while we are “small” we are also “huge”!

EXPLORE SOME MORE
    Everything is connected literally and metaphorically. Like the song says, “We are all made of star dust”. What an amazing thought! The stars are us and we are them….) I like that concept. While it seems things are so vast they can’t be understood or harnessed, all I have to do is look down at my hand and know the atoms making it up also make up the known matter.