STS - Copernicus Revolution

⚫ What did Copernicus do?
Study Points
⚫ What did Brahe contribute to the heliocentric vs. geocentric debate?
⚫ Define perihelion and aphelion.
⚫ Considering Kepler's three laws of planetary motion (don’t memorize them):
⚫ What is the shape of a planet’s orbit? (First Law)
⚫ When a satellite orbits the Earth, does it move faster at perigee or apogee? When a
comet orbits the Sun, does it orbit faster at perihelion or at aphelion? (Second Law)
⚫ Define period (from science)? In our solar system, what planet has the longest period?
The shortest? Which planet orbits with the highest speed? Slowest? (Third Law)
⚫ What did Galileo notice about the Moon, the Sun, Jupiter, and Venus? What did he
conclude from these observations?
⚫ Why does Venus exhibit phases but Mars does not? (Hint: Draw the Sun as well as
Venus, Earth and Mars in their orbits. Shade in Venus and Mars. What do they look
like from Earth’s view?)
⚫ State Newton's Universal Law of Gravity. If the mass of 1 of the 2 objects
increases, what happens to the gravitational force between the objects? If the
distance between the 2 objects increases, what happens to the force?
⚫ How can you tell if a process is science (what parts are needed)?
⚫ When science uses the term “theory” such as the “Theory of Evolution,” is that a
weak or a strong statement? What backs up any theory in science?
Copernican Revolution
~1500 to ~1700
People Who Contributed*
Copernicus (~1500)
Brahe (~1570)
Kepler (~1600)
Galileo (~1600)
Newton (~1670)
Copernicus (~1500)
Resurrected heliocentric model*
and made it popular
First suggested by Aristarchus*
Is solar system geocentric or heliocentric?*
Both models have:
Circular orbits (heavenly perfection)
Uniform motion (heavens cannot change)
Both models explain observations…
Sun, Moon, &

Planets
Rise in the East,
Set in the West
Both models explain observations…
Retrograde
motion of
planets
Retrograde Motion – Geocentric
Planets ride on epicycles
Sometimes appear to move backwards
Retrograde Motion – Heliocentric
• One planet overtakes
another planet.
• Slower planet appears to
move backwards.
Copernicus (~1500)
Brahe (~1570)
Kepler (~1600)
Galileo (~1600)
Newton (~1670)
Brahe (~1570)
• Built excellent instruments.*
• Collected 20+ years of data from
observations.*
• Measured position of Mars very
accurately.*
• Stayed with geocentric model.*
• Saw a supernova! (the sky changed)
Copernicus (~1500)
Brahe (~1570)
Kepler (~1600)
Galileo (~1600)
Newton (~1670)
Kepler (~1600)
Derived three mathematical

laws of planetary motion.
(from Brahe’s data)
Kepler’s First Law
1. Planets have elliptical orbits around the Sun*
Orbits are ellipses (squashed circles)*
<
Earth
Perihelion Aphelion
Closest point Sun Farthest point
to Sun* from Sun*
>
The Moon’s obit around Earth is also an ellipse.
< Moon
perigee Earth apogee
>
All orbits can be described as ellipses.*
<
peri-apsis Any object apo-apsis
>
Kepler’s Second Law
2. The radius vector sweeps out equal areas in equal times.
<
Thirty
days
Thirty
>
days
Radius
vector
>
Kepler’s Second Law means that…
A planet changes speed*

- faster at perihelion, slower at aphelion*
Perihelion Aphelion
(faster) (slower)
Definition needed for
Kepler’s Third Law
Period = Time to complete one cycle*

Ex: Earth’s period of rotation =?
Ex: Earth’s period of revolution = ?
Kepler’s Third Law
3. Period2 is proportional to (Radius of orbit)3
• Sometimes written as P2 α r3
• Bigger orbit radius means longer to revolve
• More distant planet takes more time to revolve.*
• More distant planet moves slower.* (slower speed in orbit)
• and
• Closer planet is faster and takes less time to revolve.
• Watch: http://physics.bu.edu/~duffy/HTML5/inner_solar_system_new.html
Kepler’s 3 Laws

2. The radius vector sweeps out equal areas in
equal times.
• A planet changes speed*
3. Period2 is proportional to (Radius of orbit)3
• More distant planet takes more time to revolve.*
• More distant planet moves slower.*
Kepler’s Laws
Also applies to objects in orbit around a central mass
•Satellites around Earth
•Star around a black hole
•Planets around other stars
•Two stars orbiting each other
Copernicus (~1500)
Brahe (~1570)
Kepler (~1600)
Galileo (~1600)
Newton (~1670)
Meanwhile…
Out in the streets…
Galileo (~1600)
Improved and used the telescope

(did NOT invent the telescope)
Galileo observed…
1. Moon craters*
Heavens are not perfect*

Heavens are Earth-like!!!*
Cigoli – 1622
Painted
imperfect
El Greco < 1600 cratered Moon
Painted imperfect heavens
Art and ideas flourished*
Front Cover of
G.B. Riccioli's
Almagestum Novum,
1651.
• Important astronomy
reference book
• Image includes
• 3 Models (Copernicus,
Riccioli, Ptolemy)
• Riccioli’s model has
Jupiter and Saturn
centered on Earth
• Solar scope pointing up
Top of the Riccioli’s famous image
(from previous slide)
• Planets around the Sun
Galileo observes…
1. Moon Craters*
Heaven is not
perfect!*
2. Sunspots* → Sun Rotates
3. Galileo observes…
4 Moons
of Jupiter* Earth is
not the
ONLY
center of
motion in
the
heavens
3. Galileo observes…
4 Moons
of Jupiter* AND
Take that, Aristotle! Hey, Aristotle.
Earth can move
and pull the
Moon along.
4. Galileo Observes Phases of Venus*
• Geocentric model predicts:
• Crescent phase only and little size change
• Heliocentric predicts:
• All phases AND
• Gibbous is small, while crescent is large
Watch: Venus phases video

http://galileoandeinstein.physics.virginia.edu/more_stuff/flashlets/PhasesofVenus.htm
4. Galileo Observes Phases of Venus*
http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/geas/lectures/lecture11/slide02.html
Mars Viewed
from Earth:
Mars does NOT
show all phases to
Earth because it is
outside of Earth’s
orbit*
Galileo Observed*
1. Imperfect heavens, like Earth*
• Moon craters*
2. Sunspots*
3. Jupiter’s moons*
4. Phases of Venus*
Copernicus (~1500)
Brahe (~1570)
Kepler (~1600)
Galileo (~1600)
Newton (~1670)
Newton (~1700)
HOW planets orbit

(and objects move)
Same laws apply to terrestrial (Earth) objects

and celestial objects*
o called the Newtonian synthesis
o Means Earth and heavens are alike*
Newton (~1700)
HOW planets orbit

(and objects move)
Newton’s Cannon Demo
Watch: https://physics.weber.edu/schroeder/software/NewtonsCannon.html
• Objects in orbit are continuously falling*
• Floating in space is really falling (not due to zero gravity)
• Watch: Earth’s orbit around Sun
http://physics.bu.edu/~duffy/HTML5/gravitation_Earth_Sun.html
Newton (~1700)
Three Laws of Motion
(Read but not on test)
https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/newton.html
And
The Universal Law of Gravity*
Newton - Universal Law of Gravity*
Every mass exerts a force on every other mass.

Note the UNIVERSAL statement.
F F
m1 m2
Newton - Universal Gravity
F F
m1 m2
Gravity always attracts*

Bigger mass means bigger force*
Bigger separation means smaller force*
F F
m D M
mM
F=G 2
D
Side comments:
Predictability, Mechanistic universe
F F
m1 D m2
mM
F=G 2
D
Side comments:
Predictability, Mechanistic universe
Chaos theory
Why gravity? F F
m1 D m2
mM
F=G 2
D
Copernican Revolution - Summary
Geocentric Vs. Heliocentric
Five people, contributions, significance
Copernicus (~1500)
Brahe (~1570)
Kepler (~1600)
Galileo (~1600)
Newton (~1670)
Process of science
Science
A process of knowing that uncovers the laws
and processes of the universe*
⚫ Way to get past the conflicts in various belief
systems (by looking at evidence)
⚫ Differs from theology or philosophy because
of the scientific method
Process of Science*
(Scientific Method)
1. Observe
2. Question
3. Model (hypothesize)
4. Predict
5. Test
6. Revise
You use much of this process all the time in
daily life
Examples: - Car stops….
- Flashlight doesn’t work…
- Cooking…
Three Hallmarks of Science*
⚫ Natural explanations (not supernatural)

⚫ Models that make testable predictions
⚫ Simplest explanation; K.I.S.S. (Occam’s
Razor)
Theory vs. Law
⚫ Vote: Which is stronger? Or more

powerful?
Theory vs. Law
⚫ Vote: Which is stronger? Or more

powerful?
⚫ Theory !!!!!!
⚫ A Theory includes Laws

⚫ “Oh it’s just a theory.”
⚫ It is not just a theory. It is more powerful
than a law.
Law
⚫ Explains what happens*
⚫ Predicts what will happen in specific cases
⚫ Ex - Universal Law of Gravity
If you drop a rock, it will fall down (and
what force is exerted on it?)
Theory
⚫ Explains why things happen*
⚫ Includes laws
⚫ Allows predictions of new tests of itself
⚫ Ex - General Theory of Relativity

⚫ Explains WHY gravity works
⚫ Includes the Law of Gravity AND more
⚫ Explains the precession of Mercury’s perihelion
⚫ Predicts the existence of Black Holes
Theory
⚫ Explains why things happen*
⚫ Includes laws
⚫ Allows predictions of new tests of itself
⚫ Supported by many scientists

⚫ Supported by many testable predictions
⚫ Can never can be proven but has not been disproven
⚫ Can always be modified, based on new
data/information*
Exercise
⚫ Can you investigate this using science?
⚫ If so, does science support the idea?
⚫ If not, why not? (what hallmarks?)
Ex –
People get nuttier during a full Moon.
Exercise
⚫ Can you investigate these using science?
⚫ If so, does science support the idea?
⚫ If not, why not?
1. A car can skid on ice.
2. Your personality is determined by the position of the
Sun, Moon, and Planets when you were born.
3. The universe and its contents evolve/change.
4. God exists. (philosophy, not science)
⚫ Test the idea and look for evidence.
Observation Projects
OBSERVATION PROJECTS: 135 points available, 100 pts max
All Observations due by midnight (11:59pm) on their due date.
You can hand in the observation during class, email a picture by midnight, or
submit on D2L Assignment Submissions.
✓ Earth-Sun Scale Model Due Jan. 28 (10 points) Make scaled model & take picture
❑ Sunset – Part 1 Due Feb. 18 (10 points) Take 1st picture of sunset (same location)
❑ Moon Phases Due Mar. 5 (10 points) Observe 4 phases & record in table
❑ Planetarium (Plan) Due May 5 (10 points) See a show Feb. 4
❑ Stargazing (SG) Due May 12 (20 points) Go stargazing & write report
❑ Telescope (Tel) Due May 12 (20 points) Look through a telescope
❑ Moon Craters (MC) Due May 12 (10 points) Look at moon craters
FUTURE: (don’t start yet)

❑ Student Conference Start Feb. 25; Due Feb. 27 (occurs on Feb. 25) (5 points)
❑ Astrophysics Lecture or Report Start Mar. 19; Due Apr. 21 (10 points) Attend
lecture Apr. 14 or write report
❑ Sunset – Part 2 Start Apr. 7; Due Apr. 28 (10 pts) 2nd sunset picture, same location
❑ Astronomy News Evaluation Start Mar. 31; Due May 5 (20 pts) New report
Homework
⚫ Continue flashcards of STUDY POINTS
⚫ Do D2L Brightspace Quizzes 1 – 4
⚫ Work on Observations
⚫ Come prepared to Lab for next week – no Lab today
⚫ Test 1 Tuesday, Feb. 11
⚫ To prepare: study points & 4 D2L Brightspace quizzes
⚫ About 60 multiple choice questions. Bring a pencil.
⚫ Optional – bring calculator (not graphing), some in the room
to use
⚫ No notes, not open book
⚫ Grades updated weekly

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⚫ What did Copernicus do?

Sun, Moon, &

Derived three mathematical

perigee Earth apogee

peri-apsis Any object apo-apsis

2. The radius vector sweeps out equal areas in equal times.

A planet changes speed*

Period = Time to complete one cycle*

1. Planets have elliptical orbits around the Sun*

Improved and used the telescope

Heavens are not perfect*

2. Sunspots* → Sun Rotates

Watch: Venus phases video

HOW planets orbit

Same laws apply to terrestrial (Earth) objects

HOW planets orbit

Every mass exerts a force on every other mass.

Gravity always attracts*

⚫ Natural explanations (not supernatural)

⚫ Vote: Which is stronger? Or more

⚫ Vote: Which is stronger? Or more

⚫ A Theory includes Laws

⚫ Ex - General Theory of Relativity

⚫ Supported by many scientists

FUTURE: (don’t start yet)

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