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Summary of Big Bang by Simon Singh - Chapter 1
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Big Bang by Simon Singh
All picture from Wikipedia and Wikicommon
IN THE BEGINNING Chapter 1
Myths, Gods and Monsters
6th Century BC, Greece
In the beginning, universe is explained
as
universe
Greek philospher began to describe
universe as
Supra-‐natural phenomena
Natural phenomena
Model/theory
according to Greek Proto-‐scienGst
Natural
Simple
Accurate
Viable Model/theory using
Experi-‐ment
Logic
Math
ObservaGons
Size of Earth, Sun, Moon, and their distances
A Greek astronomers established a false earth-‐centered model of universe
Theologian support earth-‐centered model as it was consistent with the Bible
In 16th century Copernicus constructed a sun-‐centered model
• It was simple and reasonably accurate
Unfortunately, Copernicus’s model was ignored because
• He is virtually unknown • His model defied common-‐sense
• His model was less accurate than Ptolemy’s
• Religious (and scienGfic) orthodoxy quashed original thought
Copernicus’ model was improved by Kepler using Tyhco’s observaGons
• Planets follow (slightly) ellipGcal, not circular orbits
• The sun-‐centered model was now simpler and more accurate than earth-‐centered model
Galileo championed the sun-‐centered model
• Using telescope, show that Jupiter has moons, the sun has spots, and Venus has phases
Galileo and Church
• Galileo wrote a book explaining why the sun-‐centered model was correct, unfortunately the church bullied Galileo and forced him to recant in 1633
• In later centuries, the church become more tolerant.
• Astronomers adopted the sun centered model and science flourished.
The Quest
• By 1900 cosmologists concluded that the universe was not created but existed for eternity
• But there was no evidence to back this theory • The eternal universe hypothesis was not much more than a myth
• 20th century cosmologist would return to the big quesGon and address it scienGfically: – Is the universe eternal an unlimited? Or… – Was universe created and limited?