Describe how Galileo’s work built upon the work of Copernicus.
Galileo's work built upon the work of Copernicus in several key ways. Firstly, Copernicus proposed the heliocentric model of the universe, positing that the sun, not the Earth, was at the center of the solar system. Galileo further supported this idea through his observations using the newly invented telescope, which allowed him to observe the moons of Jupiter and the phases of Venus, providing empirical evidence for the heliocentric model.
Additionally, Galileo's observations of the motion of planets and stars helped to refine and develop Copernicus' model. Through his work, Galileo was able to show that the Earth was not stationary at the center of the universe, as was believed at the time, but was instead in motion along with the other planets around the sun. This further supported the heliocentric model proposed by Copernicus.
Furthermore, Galileo's work with the telescope also led to a greater understanding of the nature of the universe and the laws of physics. His observations of celestial objects helped to challenge and revise the existing Aristotelian view of how the universe worked, paving the way for the development of modern physics and astronomy.
Overall, Galileo's work built upon the foundation laid by Copernicus by providing empirical evidence and observations that supported the heliocentric model, refining and expanding upon the understanding of the solar system and the laws of nature.