PHYSICAL SCIENCE

QUARTER __4__

Name: ___ESPEJO, Ryan Timothy G. ________________ Date: ___MAY 03, 2023___________________

Section: ___GAS 11 – ABAD _________________________

Reading article: Read the article and answer the activity that follows.

Models of the Universe

The universe is a vast and complex entity that has intrigued humans for centuries. Throughout
history, many models of the universe have been proposed, each attempting to explain the nature of the
cosmos. In this essay, I will explore the different models of the universe.

The Ptolemaic system was widely accepted for over a thousand years, from its development in
the second century CE until the sixteenth century. This model placed the Earth at the center of the
universe and had all celestial bodies, including the sun, moon, and planets, revolve around it in perfect
circles. The Ptolemaic system was based on the idea that the Earth was the center of the universe and
that all celestial bodies were made of a perfect, unchanging substance that could move in circular
motions. The model was consistent with the observations of the time, and it was believed that any
deviations from the circular paths of the celestial bodies were due to errors in observation rather than
any flaws in the model itself.

The Copernican system, on the other hand, challenged the traditional Ptolemaic system. Nicolaus
Copernicus proposed in the sixteenth century that the sun, not the Earth, was at the center of the universe,
and that the planets, including Earth, orbited around it. This heliocentric model explained some of the
inconsistencies in the Ptolemaic system, such as the retrograde motion of planets, but it was not widely
accepted until later. Galileo's observations of the phases of Venus and the moons of Jupiter provided
evidence to support the Copernican system, and it became the dominant model of the universe.

Tycho Brahe, a Danish astronomer, proposed the Tychonic system, which combined elements of
both the geocentric and heliocentric models. According to this model, the sun, moon, and stars revolved
around the Earth, while the planets orbited around the sun. The Tychonic system was an attempt to
reconcile the observational data of the time with the traditional geocentric model. Brahe's detailed
observations of the planets and stars provided the foundation for Johannes Kepler's later work.

Johannes Kepler's model, also known as the Keplerian model, was a significant development in
our understanding of the universe. Kepler was a German astronomer who used data collected by Tycho
Brahe to develop a new model of the universe. According to this model, the planets orbited the sun in
elliptical, not circular, paths. This model accurately described the motion of the planets and laid the
groundwork for the laws of planetary motion. Kepler's laws of planetary motion were significant
because they provided a mathematical basis for understanding the movement of the planets and laid
the foundation for future developments in astronomy.

In conclusion, the development of these models of the universe, from the geocentric model of Ptolemy to the
heliocentric model of Copernicus, the Tychonic system of Brahe, and the Keplerian model of Kepler,

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represent significant milestones in our understanding of the universe. The advancements in these models
were made possible by the development of new observational techniques and technologies, as well as
the willingness of scientists to challenge long-held beliefs and ideas about the nature of the universe.
Today, our understanding of the universe continues to evolve, with new discoveries and developments in
astronomy leading to new models and theories about the universe's origin and evolution.

Activity: Try to understand the previous text then summarize and organize the information about the
different models of the universe in a table.
MODEL PROPONENT DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

- The Earth is at the center of

the universe and had all
PTOLEMAIC CLAUDIUS PTOLEMY celestial bodies revolve
around it.
- Geocentric
- The Sun instead of the Earth
is at the center of the
COPERNICAN NICOLAUS COPERNICUS universe and all celestial
bodies orbited around it.
- heliocentric
- The sun, moon, and stars
revolved around the Earth,
TYCHONIC TYCHO BRAHE while the planets orbited
around the Sun.
- Combined elements of
geocentric and heliocentric
model
- The planets orbited the sun
in elliptical, and not circular
KEPLERIAN JOHANNES KEPLER paths.
- Accurately described the
motion of the planets

Guide Questions: Answer the following questions based on your understanding of the given text.
1. How do the views of the different proponent of the models differ from one another?
Different proponents of the models of the universe each hold their unique perspectives
regarding the location of the Earth and other celestial objects. Ptolemy, whose geocentric model was
widely accepted for over a thousand years, believed that heavenly bodies like the Sun, moon, and
planets revolve around the Earth in perfect circles. Meanwhile, Copernicus created a heliocentric
model that challenged the Ptolemaic system by stating that the Sun was at the center of the universe
instead of the Earth. On the other hand, Tyco proposed a model with the combined elements of
geocentric and heliocentric models, stating that the Sun, moon, and stars revolved around the Earth
while the planets orbited the Sun. Lastly, we have Kepler’s model, which used the Tychonic model as a
basis for the new model of the universe. His model states that the planets orbited the Sun in elliptical
paths instead of circular, accurately describing the motion of the planets and ultimately laying the
groundwork for the laws of planetary motion.
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2. Who is Johannes Kepler?
Johannes Kepler was a German astronomer whose work, the Keplerian model, became
significant to our understanding of the universe. The data collected by Tycho Brahe paved the way
for Kepler to develop a new model wherein compared to the previous models, he differs by stating
that the planets orbit the sun elliptically instead of circularly. Kepler’s model accurately described
the motion of the planets, ultimately laying the foundation for the laws of planetary motion.
Kepler’s laws then became a significant contribution to future developments in astronomy by
providing the mathematical basis for understanding the movement of the planets.

3. How did he use the data collected by Brahe to explain the laws of planetary motion?
To develop a new model, Kepler used the data collected by Brahe. By doing so, he created
a mathematical basis capable of accurately describing the motion of the planets, eventually laying
the foundation for future developments in astronomy.

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