TOPIC How we come to realize that the Earth is not the center of the Universe.

CONTENT The learners demonstrate an understanding of…

STANDARD 1. competing models of the universe by Eudoxus, Aristotle, Aristarchus, Ptolemy;
2. Copernicus, Brahe, and Kepler;
3. evidence that the Earth is not the center of the UNIVERSE
LEARNING The learners…
COMPETENCIES 1. explain how Plato’s problem of “Saving the Appearances” constrained Greek
models of the Universe;
2. compare and contrast the models/descriptions of the universe by Eudoxus,
Aristotle, Aristarchus, Ptolemy, and Copernicus;
3. compare and contrast explanations and models of astronomical phenomena
(Copernican, Ptolemaic, and Tychonic);
4. explain how Brahe’s innovations and extensive collection of data in
observational astronomy paved the way for Kepler’s discovery of his laws of
planetary motion.
LESSON 1 | Physical Science – 4th Quarter

I. Overview:

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Use the Concept Map as a guide for self-study. ©phoenix publishing house

II. Introduction:
Astronomy is probably the oldest of sciences. Humans, with their innate curiosity and intelligence have looked
up and wondered about phenomena in the sky since prehistoric times. People of different cultures scattered
across the globe have incorporated their observations of celestial objects and events into their creation myths
and religions. Civilizations such as the Babylonians and Egyptians made long-term, systematic observations of
the night sky and some of their records still survive.
Five planets, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn plus the Sun and Moon were visible to the unaided
eyes of the ancient astronomers. The planets could be distinguished from stars in that through regular
observation they were seen to move relative to the stars. The very word  planet derives from the classical
Greek term for wandering star. Unlike stars, planets also varied their brightness over time. A final complication
in the observed behavior of planets was that of retrograde motion. This is where a planet seemed to back
track on its path across the sky through the constellations before reverting to its normal direction. The
diagram below clearly shows this for the planet Mars in late 2003.
https://www.atnf.csiro.au/outreach/education/senior/cosmicengine/classicalastronomy.html

III. Activities
 A. Complete the table: Write the contributions of the following philosophers/astronomers on the
models/descriptions of the universe:

Philosopher/Astronome Contribution/s
r
Eudoxus Eudoxus of Cnidus as the first astronomer to explain the retrograde motion
of the planets in the sky. He found out the difference in the motion of each
planet that should be considered to give an accurate description of the
universe. According to Eudoxus model, the universe was composed of
Earth, and five other planets that are visible with the unaided eye namely
Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.
Aristotle Aristotle model was influenced by Eudoxus model. Aristotle’s model showed
that the universe was spherical and finite. Just like Eudoxus, he perceived
Earth was at the center of the universe and was stationary. He believed
that Earth is too big to move; thus it could not rotate. And other celestial
bodies were built up symmetrically concentric spherical rings around Earth.
Beyond Earth are the planets and the moon which revolved in spherical
rings. Aristotle believed that the Earth was composed of four elements -
Earth, Water, Air, and Fire. He further described that each ring was in
physical contact with one another, which means the motion of a heavenly
body in one sphere will affect the motion of nearby heavenly body.
Aristarchus Aristarchus of Samos was a Greek astronomer who made the first attempt
to create a heliocentric model of universe, which places the sun and fixed
stars were at rest, while Earth revolved around the sun in circular path.
Aristarchus calculated the sizes of the sun, and the moon and their
distances from Earth by estimating the relative angles of the moon and the
sun from Earth. Aristarchus had three assumptions; Earth was spherical, it
is far from the sun and moon passes through Earth’s shadow when they
align.
Ptolemy Claudius Ptolemaeus in his model he assumed that Earth was at the center
of the Universe, while the other celestial bodies revolved around the Earth
in perfect circles with constant velocity. His model could explain the motion
of the celestial bodies accurately. He assumed too that planets revolved on
epicycles (small spheres) which moved around the deferent (large sphere).
And added that the stars belonged to the celestial sphere which was located
beyond the planetary spheres. Ptolemy did next was to “move” Earth from
its original position to a position below the center of the system that is still
inside the deferent called eccentric.
Copernicus Nicolaus Copernicus revived the heliocentric model of Aristarchus.
Copernicus strongly believed in the heliocentric because there were
loopholes in the Ptolemaic model in terms of predicting the positions of the
planets. Copernicus model conclude that;
Heavenly bodies exhibited constant circular and perpetual motion along
their epicycles.
The sun was at the center of the universe.
The order of planets from the sun is Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter,
Saturn, and beyond the planets were fixed stars.

B. Venn Diagram: compare and contrast explanations and models of astronomical phenomena
(Copernican, Ptolemaic, and Tychonic); Give at least 2 contrasts and one comparison for each.
C. Answer the following questions:

1. What are the three laws of planetary motion? What does each law imply?
A. The first law: planets move in an ellipse (a squashed circle) with the sun at one focus point, offset
from the center; states that planets move in an elliptical orbit, with the sun being one focus of the
ellipse. This law identifies that the distance between the sun and Earth is constantly changing as the
Earth goes around its orbit.

B. The second law: in orbits around the sun, the planets sweep out equal areas in equal time; states
that the radius of the vector joining the planet to the sun sweeps out equal areas in equal times
as the planet travels around ellipse. As such, the planet moves quickest when the vector radius is shortest
(closest to the sun), and moves more slowly when the radius vector is long (further from the sun).

C. The third law states that the ratio of the squares of the orbital period for two planets is equal to
the ratio of cubes of their mean orbit radius. This indicates that the length of time for a planet
to a orbit the sun increases rapidly with the increase of the radius of planet’s orbit.

2. Short Essay:

a. How did Brahe’s innovations help Kepler in formulating the three laws of planetary motion?

Brahe’s data helped Kepler to do his mathematical analysis and prove his crucial for developing his
Three Laws of Planetary Motion. It took Kepler many years trying out many possible models to fit the
available data being concerned largely on the philosophical implications of his models and the belief
that there has to be simple numerical relationships among phenomena like the Pythagorean. After 20
years of working with the data he got Brahe’s work and makes his Three Laws of Planetary Motion.
 b. How did Plato’s Problem of “saving the appearances” constrain he Greek models of the
universe?

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