PHYS 183 Lecture Notes - Geocentric Model, Retrograde And Prograde Motion, Aswan
12 Apr 2014
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Understand the development of astronomy as a science through an overview of the copernican. Astronomy as a science has roots in many ancient cultures. Measuring the circumference of the earth in 240 bc: Syene to alexandria: distance = 5000 stadia angle = 7 degrees. = 42 000 kilometers (actual value is 40 075 kilometers) The greeks were among the first to make mathematical models of nature. They attempted to explain patterns without the use of supernatural intervention. The greek model of the universe underpinning of the model: earth is at the center (geocentric, heavens must be perfect (spheres etc) Evidence: the sun, stars and planets appear to move around the earth, no perceptible movement of the earth. Philosophy: they insisted on mathematical perfection (whole numbers, perfect spheres, musical scales etc, this insistence eventually lead to stagnant models and a refusal to change in the face of new evidence.
