PHY SCI 2ND QUARTER - Lesson 3 - Comparing Aristotelian and Galilean Views On Motion

Comparing Aristotelian and
Galilean Views on Motion

ARISTOTLE AND GALILEO
• Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, first explained the concept of
motion based on inductive-deductive reasoning.
• He believed that objects tend to move depending on what
element they are mostly composed of.
• This belief was accepted for centuries until Galileo Galilei, an
Italian scientist, explained the concept of motion based on
his thought and actual experiments.
ARISTOTLE’S VIEWS OF MOTION
• Aristotle believed that the motion of an object depends on

the element that mainly composed it.
• In this way, an object will always tend to return to its natural
state such that an object composed of mostly earth
materials will always go back to the earth.
• Just as Aristotle described the motion of an object based on

its element, he postulated that the vertical motion of an
object is in the direction of its natural place.
• This suggests that objects with more air components tend
to go up in the atmosphere, objects with more earth
components will tend to go down on the earth, etc.
Aristotle’s idea of vertical motion in which fire and air rise up while
water and earth go down.
• Objects moving horizontally will definitely stop when an

impetus, as Aristotle described, is not present.
• He believed that objects will only continue moving
horizontally when enough impetus is present.
According to Aristotle, an arrow moves forward as soon as it is

released from the bow because of the air resistance pushing it.
• Furthermore, based from his observations, Aristotle thought

that objects fall at a rate depending on its mass.
• With this, he thought that heavier objects would reach the
ground faster than lighter ones when thrown at the same
height and time.
• Lastly, Aristotle viewed projectile motion as propelling an

object horizontally with an impetus.
• This impetus, when lost, will immediately stop an object’s
horizontal motion.
• Furthermore, the object will then fall straight to the ground
like a free falling object.
The path of the motion of a projectile based on Aristotle’s idea.

GALILEO’S VIEWS OF MOTION
• Galileo stated that all objects move depending on the forces

acting on it and also established the idea that objects
thrown in space will move downwards because of the
gravitational pull acting on it.
• All objects, regardless of elemental composition, will fall
down when thrown.
• Galileo also discussed that an object, moving along a

horizontal path, will continue moving unless acted by an
external force.
• Hence, the motion of an object will not stop unless
something stopped it.
The movement of the ball on a rough surface is affected by the friction on the surface
making the ball slow down and stop.
• Galileo also found out that regardless of mass, objects fall at

the same rate.
• In the absence of air resistance, objects of different masses
will reach the ground at the same time when thrown at the
same height.
According to Galileo, a 1-kg object will fall on the ground at the same
instant as the 10 -kg object provided that they are dropped at the same height.
• Galileo viewed projectile motion as the combination of

horizontal and vertical motion acting simultaneously on the
object.
• He explained that when a cannonball was fired, the path of
its motion can be determined by considering the horizontal
and vertical components of its motion.
• The path that he was referring to is the trajectory. Normally,
an object’s trajectory can be perceived as a curved path.
The comparison between Aristotle’s and Galileo’s path of a cannonball under projectile
motion.
ARISTOTLE VS. GALILEO
Aristotle Galileo Galilei
Motion and The natural motion of an The motion of an object
composition object is to return to its does not depend on its
natural state based on its composition.
composition.
Horizontal motion The impetus is needed to Force is not needed to
sustain the horizontal sustain horizontal
movement of an object. motion.
Vertical The vertical motion of an object The motion of objects
motion depends on the kind of element thrown in space was
that makes up the object which downward due to gravity.
can be earth, water, air or fire.
Relationship Heavy objects fall faster than The speed of the object as it
of mass and lighter ones. falls does not depend on its
speed mass if air resistance is
Projectile motion A projectile moves A projectile’s path is the
parallel to the ground combination of
until the impetus is lost, horizontal and vertical
and the object will fall motions of an object.
straight toward the
ground.
Aristotle employed inductive-deductive logic in explaining
1 the motion of objects based on their element.
Galileo performed thought and actual experiments to

2 determine the behavior of objects under vertical,
horizontal, and projectile motions.
IDENTIFY WHETHER THE CONCEPT/IDEA CAME
FROM ARISTOTLE OR GALILEO.
1. An impetus is needed to sustain horizontal motion.
2. Free falling objects have uniform acceleration.
3. An object composed of earth materials will tend to fall back
to earth.
4. The natural motion of an object is to return to its natural
state.
5. Projectile motion describes the vertical and horizontal
motion of objects.

PHY SCI 2ND QUARTER - Lesson 3 - Comparing Aristotelian and Galilean Views On Motion

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Comparing Aristotelian and

Galilean Views on Motion

• Aristotle believed that the motion of an object depends on

• Just as Aristotle described the motion of an object based on

• Objects moving horizontally will definitely stop when an

According to Aristotle, an arrow moves forward as soon as it is

• Furthermore, based from his observations, Aristotle thought

• Lastly, Aristotle viewed projectile motion as propelling an

The path of the motion of a projectile based on Aristotle’s idea.

• Galileo stated that all objects move depending on the forces

• Galileo also discussed that an object, moving along a

• Galileo also found out that regardless of mass, objects fall at

• Galileo viewed projectile motion as the combination of

Galileo performed thought and actual experiments to

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