Historically very interesting, heliocentric vs . geocentric universe
The Heliocentric Theory. Background: Geocentric Theory Geocentric Theory: that the earth is the...
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Transcript of The Heliocentric Theory. Background: Geocentric Theory Geocentric Theory: that the earth is the...
The Heliocentric Theory
Background: Geocentric Theory• Geocentric Theory: that the
earth is the center of the solar system (and universe)
• Geocentric theory reflected both the prevailing world view, and desire to explain world mathematically
• Heavenly bodies inhabited spheres encapsulating the earth, with God and angels outside (Circles/spheres were considered divinely perfect)
• Epicycles explained anomalous observations of orbits
Copernicus (1473-1543, Poland)• Heliocentric Theory: that
the sun is the center of the solar system
• Each heavenly body inhabited a sphere encapsulating the sun
• Simplified the Ptolemaic theory: epicycles still required, but smaller
• Increased mathematical elegance in accounting for observations justified the theory
• 1543: On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres
Brahe (1546-1601, Denmark)
• Geocentric theory, but with modifications:
• sun and moon orbited the earth; remaining planets orbited the sun
• (Tyco had a pet moose)
Johannes Kepler (1571-1630, Germany)
• Used Brahe’s observational data to support heliocentric theory, but with elliptical orbits
• 1609: The New Astronomy
• No answer to problem of why planets orbited elliptically, or why they didn’t hurtle off into space
Galileo (1564-1642, Italy)
• First use of the telescope to study astronomy
• 1613: Starry Messenger argued for a Copernican interpretation (heliocentric)
• Fitted close astronomical observation with mathematics; believed in rational, mathematical explanation of physical universe
Isaac Newton (1642-1727, England)
• 1687: published Principia Mathematica: movement through mutual attraction, or gravity
• Developed calculus, which helped calculate quickly
• Invented many optical devices, including wide light-gathering telescope
• Emphasized the importance of empirical data and mathematical relationships
Conclusions• Heliocentric theory challenged
Europeans’ world view
– Were humans the most important element of the universe, if they weren’t physically at the center?
– Would God create a world for humans that wasn’t at the center?
– Was every sentence in the Bible literally true, or was interpretation necessary?
• Success of the heliocentric theory pointed to the value of
– mathematics in describing reality and making predictions based on theory
– observational tools to increase humans’ capacity to gather data
– man’s ability to explain reality mathematically
– math’s ability to simplify complex phenomena so that man can analyze and understand it
From Theodore Roosevelt’s history of the war