Event 3: "Leonardo da Vinci on Visualizing the Forces of Nature: Gravity"

 Event 3

This event titled "Leonardo da Vinci on Visualizing the Forces of Nature: Gravity" is a dialogue that discusses da Vinci’s ideas about gravity that were much before his time. The two speakers we got to hear from are Claire Farago and Matthew Landrus. In an age of climate change, Weve started looking at DaVinci’s work again to examine his interests in the natural world and one of the profound ideas da Vinci had were about gravity.

Professor Gharib has staked a claim that Da Vinci knew about gravity before the famed Gallileo, and that Gallileo learned from Da Vincis notes. Da Vinci used his knowlege of mechanics and geometry to understand this science. 

Da Vinci looked at the grains of sand as they fell and began to understand gravity and had profound ideas that were before his time. According to da Vinci, as the grains of sand fall, it gains speed due to the constant acceleration imparted by gravity. Da Vinci may have not had the expiramental work and mathmatical proofs for his work, but he had geometrical diagrams and analyses that cover the same ideas contemporary scientists have.

Da Vinci studied the natural world to enhance and perfect his artwork. If he can understand the world in real life, he would be able to recreate and represent the world through art. This is a clear example of combining the arts and the sciences to enhance them both. This enhanced art because Leonardo’s understanding of science made his art more realistic and clear, and it enhances science because Leonardo’s drive to better his art pushed him to make his scientific contributions.

Gharib, Morteza, et al. “Leonardo Da Vinci’s Visualization of Gravity as a Form of Acceleration.” Leonardo, vol. 56, no. 1, 2023, pp. 21–27, https://doi.org/10.1162/leon_a_02322.

Amiridou, A., and M. Skoumios. "Leonardo da Vinci's Approach to Science and Its Relevance to Contemporary Science Education." International Journal of Science Education, vol. 39, no. 5, 2017, pp. 543-560.

"The British Library. 'Leonardo da Vinci's Scientific Studies and Observations." The British Library, https://www.bl.uk/leonardo-da-vinci/articles/leonardo-da-vincis-scientific-studies-and-observations.

Kaku, Michio. "The Future of Humanity: Terraforming Mars, Interstellar Travel, Immortality, and Our Destiny Beyond Earth." Doubleday, 2018.

Smith, John. "The Concept of Gravity in Modern Physics." Physics Today, vol. 75, no. 3, 2022, pp. 42-46.