The Evolution of Our
Understanding of the Solar
System
How
would you
explain an
image like
this in
ancient
times?
Making a Foldable!
• Make a 4 flap foldable!
• Label the 4 flaps:
–
–
–
–
Aristotle
Ptolemy
Copernicus
Galileo
• Inside, note as we go through scientists:
– Heliocentric or Geocentric
– Important Information
Aristotle: Greek
Philosopher
Ancient Greece
~300’s B.C.
Aristotle looks at sky and
notices that all objects rise
and set. He concludes that
the Earth must be the center
of the universe and thus the
center of the solar system.
This becomes known as the
geocentric model. He
explains the backward
motion of some planets as
epicycles.
Geocentric Model
http://www.astro.umass.edu/~myun/teaching/a100/images/geocentric.jpg
Claudius
Ptolemaeus:
Ptolemy: Italian
Astronomer
100 A.D.
Ptolemy agrees with Aristotle
but explains the strange
phenomenon of retrograde
motion by advancing theory
that of “Epicycles”.
Extravagant
Nicolas Copernicus:
Polish Astronomer
Late 1400’s
Nicholas Copernicus,
was the first astronomer
to formulate a
scientifically based
heliocentric theory that
displaced the Earth from
the center of the
universe. He believed
the sun was the center of
our solar system.
Heliocentric Model
http://universe-review.ca/I07-02-SolarSystem.jpg
Galileo GalileiItalian Astronomer
Early 1600.
Galileo confirmed
Copernicus’ heliocentric
theory but broke an
agreement not to speak
about it to the church, he
was placed under house
arrest during the Spanish
Inquisition.
Aristotle
Geocentric
Heliocentric
Ptolemy
Copernicus
Geocentric
Heliocentric
Geocentric
Heliocentric
-
-Oldest
-Agreed with
-Creator of
Aristotle
Geocentric
-Added
-objects in the retrograde
sky rise and
motion
set.
1st to say sun is
center.
- This is called
heliocentric
(helio= sun /
centric =center)
Galileo
Geocentric
Heliocentric
-Confirmed
Copernicus’s
theory
-House arrest and
ultimately banned
from his country
for supporting
scientific beliefs
not religious.
Sources:
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http://mgpc3.as.arizona.edu/images/Night%20Sky%20large2.jpg
http://www.redorbit.com/modules/reflib/article_images/8_06878c3866cc846df
46ffb3d3441c9d9.jpg
http://cseligman.com/text/sky/retrograde.htm
http://www.kidspast.com/images/aristotle.jpg
http://cnx.org/content/m11943/latest/ptolemy.gif
http://www.polishamericancenter.org/Copernicus.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_Galilei#Church_controversy
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap960830.html
http://www.relativitycalculator.com/images/parallax_and_history/Phenomenon
_and_History_of_Parallax.jpg