stars and wondered about the universe 12)Scientific theories change when scientists discover new information. 13)Observational evidence caused the model of the solar system to be changed from one in which the sun and planets orbit the Earth to one in which the Earth and planets orbit the sun. 14)Prior to the 1500's it was believed that the earth was the center of the planets. This was known as the geocentric model. Aristotle’s and Ptolemy’s Universe The Geocentric Theory is credited to the Greek astronomers Aristotle and Ptolemy. Geocentric ideas The Earth is still, motionless, and at the center of the Universe
Celestial bodies move in perfect circles at uniform speeds
Stars were set in a rotating sphere that turned E to W once a day
Planets, moon, sun also set in separate spheres that moved
slower The Copernican Model: A Sun-Centered Solar System Sun Centered The distinction between the Solar System and the Universe was not clear until modern times Polish priest – astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus (1473 – 1543) eventually decided to reject the geocentric model Heliocentric
Heliocentric – Sun centered universe
Copernicus Galileo Galilei Proves Copernicus’ Hypothesis
Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) was a pivotal figure in the development
of modern astronomy. He proved the Copernican hypothesis.
He also invented the telescope.
Galileo
The sun is the center (heliocentric) of our
solar system Our solar system is a part of a larger universe Using a new invention, the telescope, Galileo was able to view parts of our Solar System in motion What could Galileo see? New stars (Milky Way made up of stars) Mountains and valleys on the moon Four moons orbiting Jupiter (now called Galilean moons) Phases of Venus Sunspots (rotating around the sun about once a month) The rings of Saturn Planets are disks, not pinpoints of light like the stars Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) Johannes Kepler, a German astronomer who lived at about the same time as Galileo. He showed mathematically that Copernicus' idea of a sun-centered system worked well if uniform circular motion was replaced with uneven (but predictable) motion along off- center ellipses. Modern View
Like any experiment, as we learn more, we
change our hypothesis about the universe Geocentric – Ptolemy's model Earth-Centered Universe Heliocentric – Copernicus & Galileo Sun- Centered Solar System and larger Universe Big Bang Theory – the Universe started from one big explosion Modern thought begins to take hold
Other scientists began to look and explain how
the universe worked Isaac Newton (1642-1727) proposed that gravity is the main source that holds our solar system together. The sun's gravitational pull holds the Earth and other planets in their orbits. Things on or near the Earth are pulled toward it by the Earth's gravity. So what have we learned? Before modern thought, the universe was seen in 2 ways 1. Geocentric: Ptolemy's Earth-centered Universe 2. Heliocentric: Copernicus’ and Galileo’s Sun Centered Universe 3. Kepler: explained the orbits of planets 4. Newton: explained gravity is the glue that hold the solar system together 5. 20th century: newer ideas would change the way we thought about gravity, space, and time