PHYS 183 Lecture Notes - Paradigm Shift, Nicolaus Copernicus, Deferent And Epicycle
Document Summary
Early astronomy: greeks among first to make mathematical models of nature, attempted to explain patterns without use of supernatural intervention, similar theme with most models: earth at centre of the universe. Greek model of the universe: geocentric, heavens must be perfect (spheres, driven by evidence & philosophy, evidence: sun, stars & planets appear to move around earth. Ptolemey"s model (150 a. d. : complex motions of planets difficult to explain within geocentric model retrograde motion: planets usually appear to move e to w but occasionally reverse direction (w to e) Copernican revolution 4 key figures: nicholas copernicus (polish, 1473-1543) Occam"s razor: when faced with two explanations, pick the simpler one. Proposed sun-centred model for the heavens (1543) Didn"t think stars were at different distances than us: tycho brahe (danish, 1546-1601) Didn"t detect stellar parallax so concluded earth must be stationary but couldn"t compiled 30 years of precise observational data used naked eye reconcile this with motions of other planets around sun.
