136 Flashcards
What model did Aristarchus challenge?
Geocentric model
The geocentric model places the Earth at the center of the universe.
Who countered Aristarchus’s views by supporting the geocentric model?
Tipparchus
Tipparchus argued that the geocentric model explained the universe better than Aristarchus’s model.
What mathematical proof did Aristarchus need to support his hypothesis?
Show mathematically that Earth’s orbit is an ellipse
The concept of an elliptical orbit contradicted the geocentric model.
How long did Aristarchus’s model take to gain acceptance?
2000 years
Aristarchus’s heliocentric model was not accepted until the early modern era.
Which philosopher quoted Aristarchus’s hypothesis?
Archimedes
Archimedes referenced Aristarchus’s ideas in his book, The Sand Reckoner.
In what year did Copernicus publish his revolutionary idea?
1543
This year marks the publication of Copernicus’s work that opposed the geocentric view.
What did Copernicus argue was the center of the universe?
The sun
This was a significant shift from the geocentric model.
What phenomenon did Copernicus explain with his model?
Retrograde motion of the planets
Copernicus explained this motion as a result of Earth’s and other planets’ movements around the sun.
What are the characteristics of celestial motions according to the Copernican model?
Uniform, infinite, and circular or a compound of numerous circles (epicycles)
This describes the nature of how celestial bodies were thought to move in Copernicus’s model.
What explains the seasons on Earth according to the Copernican model?
Earth spins on a tilted axis
The tilt of Earth’s axis is responsible for the changing seasons.
Fill in the blank: The Copernican model suggests that all planets revolve around the _______.
Sun
This was a key idea in Copernicus’s heliocentric model.
