Big

Bang by Simon Singh

All picture from Wikipedia and Wikicommon

Chapter 1

IN THE BEGINNING

Myths, Gods and Monsters

6th Century BC, Greece

universe In the beginning, universe is explained as Supra- natural phenom ena Greek philospher began to describe universe as Natural phenom ena

Natural

Experi- ment

Viable

Model/ theory according to Greek Proto- scienGst

Simple

Observa Gons

Model/ theory using

Logic

Accurate

Math

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, Copernicuss model was ignored because

He is virtually unknown His model deed common-sense His model was less accurate than Ptolemys Religious (and scienGc) orthodoxy quashed original thought

Copernicus model was improved by Kepler using Tyhcos 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 ourished.

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 scienGcally:
Is the universe eternal an unlimited? Or Was universe created and limited?