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Johannes Kepler
Johannes Kepler’s contribution to the philosophy of science occurred during the Scientific Revolution. Kepler had a difficult time rejecting Copernicus’s theories of circular motion, as he had been quite an advocate in his earlier years of education. However, Kepler determined through his observations of the orbit of Mars and scientific data from his predecessor Tycho Brahe, the formulation of the three laws of planetary motion. -
Johannes Kepler Part 2
Kepler published the Law of Orbits and the Law of Equal Areas in 1609, followed by the Law of Harmonies in 1619 (Lee 1). The Law of Orbits stated that planetary movement occurs in an elliptical path. Each ellipse has two focal points, with the sun at one focal point while planetary bodies rotate around it. The Law of Equal Areas stated that the planetary bodies remain the same distance from the sun at any time in the elliptical rotation. -
Johannes Kepler Part 3
The Law of Harmonies is the mathematical formula P^2=a^3 that can calculate the distance any planet is from the sun, once you determine how long it takes for the planet to orbit the sun (Nave 1). Even after his death, Kepler also inspired Newton to develop his theory of gravitation based on Kepler’s third law. Works Cited -
Johannes Kepler Works Cited
Godfrey-Smith, Peter. Theory and Reality : An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science. University of Chicago Press, 2003. Science and Its Conceptual Foundations. EBSCOhost. theory Lee, Kevin. “Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion.” Kepler's Laws - Planetary Orbits - NAAP, astro.unl.edu/naap/pos/pos_background1.html. Accessed 8 Apr. 2017. Nave, Carl R. "Kepler's Laws." HyperPhysics. Georgia State University, 2012. Web. 8 Apr. 2017. http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/kepler.html.
