Astronomy
1st Edition
ISBN: 9781938168284
Author: Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. Wolff
Publisher: OpenStax
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Textbook Question
Chapter 2, Problem 20E
What two factors made it difficult, at first, for astronomers to choose between the Copernican heliocentric model and the Ptolemaic geocentric model?
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The geocentric model, in all of its complexity, survived scientific scrutiny for almost 1,400 years. However, in modern
astronomy, scientists seek to explain the natural and physical world we live in as simply as possible. The complexity of
Ptolemy's model was an indicator that his theory was inherently flawed. Why, then, was the geocentric model the leading
theory for such a long time, even though the heliocentric model more simply explained the observed motions and
brightness of the planets?
Check all that apply.
☐ The geocentric model conformed to both the philosophical and religious doctrines of the time.
☐ The heliocentric model did not make noticeably better predictions than the geocentric model.
From Earth, all heavenly bodies appeared to circle around a stationary Earth.
The complexity of the geocentric model was appealing to most ancient astronomers.
Ancient astronomers did not observe stellar parallax, which would have provided evidence in favor of the heliocentric model.
Kepler's 1st law says that our Solar System's planets orbit in ellipses around the Sun where the closest distance to the Sun is called perihelion.
Suppose I tell you that there is a planet with a perihelion distance of 2 AU and a semi-major axis of 1.5 AU.
Does this make physical sense? Explain why or why not.
What are the 5 scientific objections to the Copernican heliocentric model?
Chapter 2 Solutions
Astronomy
Ch. 2 - From where on Earth could you observe all of the...Ch. 2 - Give four ways to demonstrate that Earth is...Ch. 2 - Explain, according to both geocentric and...Ch. 2 - In what ways did the work of Copernicus and...Ch. 2 - What were four of Galileo’s discoveries that were...Ch. 2 - Explain the origin of the magnitude designation...Ch. 2 - Ursa Minor contains the pole star, Polaris, and...Ch. 2 - How many degrees does the Sun move per day...Ch. 2 - How many degrees does the Moon move per day...Ch. 2 - Explain how the zodiacal constellations are...
Ch. 2 - The Sun was once thought to be a planet. Explain...Ch. 2 - Is the ecliptic the same thing as the celestial...Ch. 2 - What is an asterism? Can you name an example?Ch. 2 - Why did Pythagoras believe that Earth should be...Ch. 2 - How did Aristotle deduce that the Sun is farther...Ch. 2 - What are two ways in which Aristotle deduced that...Ch. 2 - How did Hipparchus discover the wobble of Earth’s...Ch. 2 - Why did Ptolemy have to introduce multiple circles...Ch. 2 - Why did Copernicus want to develop a completely...Ch. 2 - What two factors made it difficult, at first, for...Ch. 2 - What phases would Venus show if the geocentric...Ch. 2 - Describe a practical way to determine in which...Ch. 2 - What is a constellation as astronomers define it...Ch. 2 - Draw a picture that explains why Venus goes...Ch. 2 - Show with a simple diagram how the lower parts of...Ch. 2 - Parallaxes of stars were not observed by ancient...Ch. 2 - Why do you think so many people still believe in...Ch. 2 - Consider three cosmological perspectives-the...Ch. 2 - The north celestial pole appears at an altitude...Ch. 2 - What were two arguments or lines of evidence in...Ch. 2 - Although the Copernican system was largely correct...Ch. 2 - During a retrograde loop of Mars, would you expect...Ch. 2 - The Great Pyramid of Giza was constructed nearly...Ch. 2 - Explain why more stars are circumpolar for...Ch. 2 - What is the altitude of the north celestial pole...Ch. 2 - If you were to drive to some city south of your...Ch. 2 - Hipparchus could have warned us that the dates...Ch. 2 - Explain three lines of evidence that argue against...Ch. 2 - What did Galileo discover about the planet Jupiter...Ch. 2 - What did Galileo discover about Venus that cast...Ch. 2 - Suppose Eratosthenes had found that, in...Ch. 2 - Suppose Eratosthenes’ results for Earth’s...Ch. 2 - Suppose you are on a strange planet and observe,...
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- In Ptolemys model, how do the epicycles of Mercury and Venus differ from those of Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn?arrow_forwardWhy did Ptolemy have to introduce multiple circles of motion for the planets instead of a single, simple circle to represent the planet’s motion around the Sun?arrow_forwardIn Ptolemys model, which of the followingepicycle, equant, or deferenttravels in uniform circular motion as viewed from a particular point? Name and describe that point. Are these uniform circular motions at the same speeds and in the same directions?arrow_forward
- Describe in detail the motions of the planets according to Ptolemy.arrow_forwardWhy did Pythagoras believe that Earth should be spherical?arrow_forwardExplain how Kepler was able to find a relationship (his third law) between the orbital periods and distances of the planets that did not depend on the masses of the planets or the Sun.arrow_forward
- Tycho Brahe's observations of the stars and planets were accurate to about 1 arc minute. To what distance does this angle correspond at the distance of (a) the Moon; (b) the Sun; and (c) Saturn (at closest approach)?arrow_forwardProof of why the Copernican model is more compatible with explaining the solar system than the Ptolemaic model (Think of specific Galilean observations & retrograde motion)arrow_forwardWhat was so significant about Tycho Brahe's observations of the position of the planets that enabled Kepler to eventually come up with his theory that planets orbit the Sun in ellipses rather than circles? If Kepler did not have access to Tycho's data, do you think he would have came up with the same theory, or do you think he would have preferred either the Copernican or Ptolemaic theory?arrow_forward
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