Kelper’s LawsBy Shawn Whortham, Devin Snelson, and

Greg Shaw

Life of KeplerJohannes Kepler was one of the best early astronomers as well as a very capable mathematician. He was born in 1571 and died in the year 1630. Kepler declared that he built his astronomy from 'the hypotheses of Copernicus, the observations of Tycho Brahe and the magnetical science of William Gilbert'. Several of his works were published in Latin, such as his 1609 ‘New Aetiological Astronomy’ and his 1619 ‘The Harmonies of the World’. ‘Rudolphine Tables’, published in 1627, enables astromoners to calculate the postions of the planets and some other predictions which were very beneficial. All of his works and theories made Kepler the foremost astronomer of his time (Johannes Kepler – and).

Kepler’s InfluenceJohannes Kepler had made an immense influence on modern physics. He is credited the founder of “celestial mechanics” and the first to explain planetary motion. He is best known for his laws of planetary motion, Harmonices Mundi, and Epitome of Copernican Astronomy. Kepler demonstrated incredible interest and success in the field of optics, including his enhancement to the refracting telescope. Isaac Newton's theory of universal gravitation came about because of the work of Kepler. Kepler’s findings have greatly impacted the world, and his work has provided a basis for several astromers (Fowler).

Kepler’s Explanation of the Solar System

Johannes Kepler believed he saw the planetary orbits as six concentric circles, also known as the Copernican system. He felt the universe would somehow show mathematical symmetry. After a disappointing discovery about his first theory, Kepler hypothesized the universe was really three-dimensional. ‘Mysterium Cosmographicum’ was his work which explained the mysteries of the universe. Kepler’s canalizations and calculations about the universe have proved vital in our modern day understanding of astronomy (Fowler).

The illustration to the right displaysa representation of the universe; the central part is at the top right.

Kepler’s Work: “Epitome Astronomiae” and the Rudolphine Table

Kepler published the seven-volume "Epitome Astronomiae" in 1621. The findings in “Epitome Astronomiae” explained heliocentric astronomy in a systematic way. After this, Kepler completed the Rudolphine Tables. These tables included multiple calculations using his self-developed logarithms and provided continuous tables for calculating planetary positions for any date. Kepler also used the tables to predict a pair of transits by Mercury and Venus of the Sun (Johannes Kepler – Astronomy). Kepler’s works greatly effected the astronomy field and helped lead other astronomers to findings.

His Work in the Field of Optics

 Aside from astronomy, Kepler was also active in the field of optics. Inspired by Galileo's discoveries of 1609 and 1610, Kepler developed a theory of lenses to explain the operation of the telescope. He published this work in 1611 as a small book titled Dioptrice. In his book Dioptrice , Kepler was the first to describe real, virtual, upright, and inverted images and magnification. Kepler also explains the principle of how a telescope works. Lastly, Dioptrice discovers and describes the properties of total internal reflection (Johannes Kepler – Astronomy).

His Additional DiscoveriesNot only did Kepler work with astronomy and optics, he had several others contributions to physics. His book "Stereometrica Doliorum" formed the basis of integral calculus. Kepler was also the first to explain that the tides are caused by the moon. He tried to use stellar parallax caused by the Earth's orbit to measure the distance to the stars. Finally, he was the earliest to suggest that the Sun rotates about its axis in his work "Astronomia Nova” (Johannes Kepler – Astronomy).

Fowler, Michael. "Johannes Kepler." Galileo and Einstein Home Page. Web. 13 Apr. 2011."Johannes Kepler - and His Early Astronomy and Physics." New-science-theory.com. New Science Theory. Web. 13 Apr. 2011."Johannes Kepler - Astronomy." About.com. Web. 13 Apr. 2011.

Isaac Newton revised Kepler's First Law to include other types of trajectories than just ellipses. These are the hyperbola and parabola. It is now called the Law of Conic Sections.

Newton’s expantions

Isaac Newton revised Kepler’s second law to include not just planets orbiting the Sun but any kind of orbital system, as well as any system of angular motion. It is used in many contexts today and is called the Law of the Conservation of Angular Momentum.

Newton’s expansions continued

“The Science of Astronomy.” Metropolitain State College of Denver. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Apr. 2011. <http://www.mscd.edu/physics/astro/notes/notes3.htm>.

Kepler himself was a very religious person. He saw the scientific work he did as his way of fulfilling his Godly purpose, this purpose being better understanding the world God created.

Impacts on Religion

Due to the growing acceptance of the heliocentric theory, organized religion was interested in the studies of Kelper. The discovery of the Kepler Laws was generally actually accepted by the church. The believed that better knowing the universe would bring about a better knowledge of God himself.

Religious impact

The church may have at first been accepting of the new discoveries; however, now the church felt threatened in its authority. Most prior scientists had avoided this by not publishing works, but Kepler and a few others were tired of this added issue.

Religious effects

The church continued to be touchy about new scientific discoveries. This was evident in the punishments put on Galileo Galilei, who was put under house arrest and ordered by the church to publicly denounce his own discoveries.

Religious impacts continued

History World International. (n.d.). Impact Of The Scientific Revolution. Retrieved April 14, 2011, from The European Dream Of Progress And Enlightenment: http://history-world.org/science,%20Impact%20of.htm

Field, J. V. “Kepler Biography.” University of St Andrews. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. <http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Biographies/Kepler.html>.

Kepler was a fantastic scientist, mathematician, and discoverer of all things universal. Without him, we would not have made nearly the advancements in science that we have.

Conclusion

The impacts of science on religion can be a very negative thing. When the church tries to regulate science, it almost always ends badly. However, sometimes all we need to better understand God is a better understanding of how the universe He created works scientifically, or at least that was Kepler’s belief.

Conclusion continued