GEOG 109 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Deferent And Epicycle, Nicolaus Copernicus, Inertial Frame Of Reference
9 Dec 2014
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Document Summary
Because we can"t feel earth"s motion through space, early astronomers created a geocentric model of the. Solar system to explain what they observed in the world around them. Retrograde motion is when the planets stop moving in the eastward motion and move westward across the sky and then return to their normal eastward travel. Epicycle is a small circle superimposed on each planets larger circle while traveling along its larger circle, a planet would at the same time be moving along its smaller circle. Heliocentric theory was that the sun was the center of the solar system (nicholas copernicus started this) Empirical science is the quest to accurately describe patterns in nature. 3 empirical rules that describe the motions of the planets is referred to as keplers laws. 1st law: planets move on elliptical orbits with the sun at one focus. 2nd law: planets sweep out equal areas in equal times.
