SSHistory

CHAPTER 6
EARLY VIEWS
ABOUT THE
UNIVERSE
Geocentric vs.
Heliocentric
A Battle for the Ages
The Beginnings of the
Geocentric Model
of the Universe
Early Greek Astronomy
• Aristotle
(384 – 322 BCE):
States that the
Universe is a
perfect sphere
with Earth at the
center.
• Objects in space
also move in
perfect circles.
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a
T H
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Aristotle’s View of
Motion
• Artistotle - Greek philosopher
and scientist, categorized
motion into two:
A. Terrestrial Motion- pertains to

the movement of any object on
Earth
B. Celestial Motion – any object
beyond Earth
A.Terrestrial Motion
• Classifications:
1. Natural Motion
• determined by the nature of an
object’s composition
Ex. 1. A ball thrown up
2. a fire created on the
ground
• 2. Violent motion-
happens when an object
is acted upon by any
external force.
Ex. Force applied in
shooting an arrow
• 3. Alteration- refers to a type of
motion that describes qualitative
change.
• Ex. Liquid -> ices
liquid -> steam
The Celestial Sphere
• In the ancient times, Earth was said
to be enclosed in a rotating celestial
sphere,
*North Celestial Pole
*South Celestial Pole
*Celestial Equator
ADDITIONAL TERMS TO
REMEMBER
(movement of sun)
• Ecliptic – Sun’s apparent path
through the celestial sphere.
• Equinox- happens when the sun’s
position in the ecliptic intersects
with the celestial equator
- day and night are of equal
length
- 2 equinoxes a year
a. vernal equinox- March
b. autumnal equinox
September
Solstice- happens when the sun’s
position in the ecliptic reaches it’s
northernmost or southernmost point
relative to the celestial equator.
a. summer solstice- June, longest
day is experienced
b. winter solstice- December, night
is longest
• The concept of solstices
and equinoxes depends on
the obliquity of the ecliptic.
QUESTIONS TO
CONSIDER!!!
• What are the two
categories of motion?
• What are the 3 types of
terrestrial Motion?
• Describe the celestial
sphere.
Early Greek Astronomy
• Ptolemy (140 AD): Still believed that
Earth was center of Universe
(geocentric theory). Noticed that
Aristotle’s model did not explain
planetary movements.
• Planets and stars moved in
EPICYCLES. In other words planets
move in perfect CIRCLES WITHIN
CIRCLES!
Ptolemaic

System
Mars
Jupiter
Ptolemy’s system provided

the intellectual framework
for all discussion of the
universe for nearly 1600
years!! So in a very true
sense, this idea was
stupendously successful
even though we now know
that it was incorrect.
Saturn
Earth & Moon
Venus
Mercury Sun
The Revolution of Ideas
The Beginnings of the

Heliocentric Model
of the Universe
Copernicus
(1473-1543)
A Polish Astronomer
The Copernican Revolution!

Copernicus
1. Earth is not the center of “everything.”

2. All the planets revolve around the Sun!
(heliocentric theory)
3. Stars are very much farther away than
the Sun
4. Any motion of the stars is a result of the
Earth’s rotation
5. Still used “perfect” circles for the orbits.
Changing Ideas is Not Easy.
Copernicus was no fool. He waited until his own

death before he published his new ideas.
On March 5, 1616,
Copernicus' work was
banned from being taught
and discussed by the
Congregation of the Index
"until corrected." It stayed
on this list of prohibited
books and teachings until
1822!!!!
Italian scientist
• Galileo Galilei (late 1500s - early
1600s): First to point the refracting
TELESCOPE towards the heavens.
He studied the movement and orbits of
many nearby planets in our solar
system.
• Offered PROOF to Copernicus’s
Heliocentric Model of our Universe.
• Led to the discovery of the moons of
Jupiter
Galileo Galilei
The Great
Compromise
Tycho Brahe
(1546-1601)
Danish Nobleman
Experimentalist &
Observer.
Made very careful
measurements of star’s
positions. Earth must be
stationary.
Tychonic Model
Tycho developed a system that
combined the best of both worlds.
He kept the Earth in the center of

the universe, so that he could
retain Aristotelian physics and
Ptolemy’s geocentric idea.
The Moon and Sun revolved about the Earth, and the
shell of the fixed stars was centered on the Earth.
But Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn

revolved about the Sun.
Tychonic Model
The German Student
• Johannes Kepler
(early 1600’s):
Followed Tycho’s work
BUT followed the
Heliocentric Model.
• Used Math to calculate
that planets moved in
ORBITS and along
ELLIPSES.
Newton’s Idea of
Law of Universal Gravitation
Supported Kepler’s
Laws of Planetary Motion
Kepler’s Planetary Diagram
Issac Newton
•English scientist
(mid 1660’s)
•3 laws of motion
explain how the
inertia of a planet
with gravity causes
orbital motion.
•Also, developed the
reflecting telescope.
EARTH’S MOTION
Earth’s Motion
•1. Diurnal Motion
•Refers to the daily
rising of the sun in the
east and setting in the
west.
2. Annual Motion
• Annual motion is the
apparent yearly movement of
the stars as observed from
Earth as a direct effect of the
Earth’s revolution around the
sun.
TRY TO ANSWER THIS?
• 1. Differentiate diurnal from

annual motion of the Earth.
• 2.Expalin the principle behind
“Saving the Appearances” of
Plato.
Today!

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CHAPTER 6

A. Terrestrial Motion- pertains to

Ptolemy’s system provided

Earth & Moon

The Beginnings of the

The Copernican Revolution!

1. Earth is not the center of “everything.”

Copernicus was no fool. He waited until his own

He kept the Earth in the center of

But Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn

Law of Universal Gravitation

• 1. Differentiate diurnal from

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