Physics in medieval Islam

Experimental physics began in medieval Islamic Iraq and Egypt, with the work of the Muslim physicist, Ibn al-Haytham (known as Alhazen in the West), who is considered the "father of modern optics" and one of the most important physicists of the Middle Ages, for having developed the earliest experimental scientific method in his Book of Optics. George Sarton, the "father of the history of science", wrote in his Introduction to the History of Science: Ibn al-Haytham was not only the greatest Muslim physicist, but by all means the greatest of mediaeval times. Ibn Haytham's writings reveal his fine development of the experimental faculty. His tables of corresponding angles of incidence and refraction of light passing from one medium to another show how closely he had approached discovering the law of constancy of ratio of sines, later attributed to Snell. He accounted correctly for twilight as due to atmospheric refraction, estimating the sun's depression to be 19 degrees below the horizon, at the commencement of the phenomenon in the mornings or at its termination in the evenings.

Klappentext

Experimental physics began in medieval Islamic Iraq andEgypt, with the work of the Muslim physicist, Ibnal-Haytham(known as Alhazen in the West), who is considered the"father of modern optics" and one of the most importantphysicists of the Middle Ages, for having developed theearliest experimental scientific method in his Book ofOptics. George Sarton, the "father of the history ofscience", wrote in his Introduction to the History ofScience: Ibn al-Haytham was not only the greatest Muslimphysicist, but by all means the greatest of mediaevaltimes.Ibn Haytham's writings reveal his fine development of theexperimental faculty. His tables of correspondingangles ofincidence and refraction of light passing from onemedium toanother show how closely he had approacheddiscovering thelaw of constancy of ratio of sines, later attributed toSnell. He accounted correctly for twilight as due toatmospheric refraction, estimating the sun'sdepression tobe 19 degrees below the horizon, at the commencementof thephenomenon in the mornings or at its termination in theevenings.