Models of the Universe

• The history of the model of the universe transition from the

geocentric to the heliocentric model over time.

• The heliocentric model places the sun as the center of the

solar system and the planets orbit around it.

• The geocentric model has the earth at the center of the

solar system.
EUDOXUS AND A GEOCENTRIC UNIVERSE
• Eudoxus of Cnidus proposed a model of the universe to
explain the apparent opposite motion of some planets.
(retrograde motion).

• He placed Earth at the center and explained that various

spheres are needed to explain the observed movement of
objects.

• The spheres spin around different axes on a steady motion.

Eudoxus’ model of the universe.
 ARISTOTLE AND A FINITE, ETERNAL, AND
GEOCENTRIC UNIVERSE
• Just like Eudoxus, Aristotle’s universe is geocentric which
places the sun and other planetary objects around Earth.

• He added that the universe is finite in terms of space and

eternal in time.

• In his model, the universe was spherical but infinite.

Concentric spheres surrounded Earth, with objects following
Aristotle’s model of the universe.
ARISTARCHUS AND THE DISTANCE TO THE SUN AND
MOON
• Aristarchus of Samos was the first person to attempt to
calculate the distance of the earth to the sun during the 3rd
century.

• He conducted this by measuring the angle between the

moon and the sun and applied the principles of
trigonometry.
ARISTARCHUS AND THE DISTANCE TO THE SUN AND
MOON

Aristarchus principle in measuring the distance between the earth and the sun.
ARISTARCHUS AND THE DISTANCE TO THE SUN AND
MOON
• Aristarchus described Earth as a
body that rotated daily around
an axis and revolved annually
around the sun.

• The stars were fixed in a large

sphere with the sun at the
Aristarchus’ model of the universe.
center.
PTOLEMY AND EPICYCLES
• Ptolemy adapted Aristotle’s geocentric theory of the
universe.

• Ptolemy’s idea is that the planets do not orbit in perfect

circles around the earth.
PTOLEMY AND EPICYCLES

• Ptolemy proposed another model where the whole universe

moved about a fixed, stationary Earth.

• He accounted for the apparent motions of the planets

around the earth by assuming that each planet moved
around a sphere called an epicycle.

• The center of the epicycle moved on a larger sphere called a

PTOLEMY AND EPICYCLES

Ptolemy’s model of the universe.

PTOLEMY AND EPICYCLES

• He noted that the motion

of the planet could be
described by large loops
where the planet moves in
a retrograde motion.

Ptolemy’s proposed epicycle movement

of the planet.
PTOLEMY AND EPICYCLES

• Ptolemy’s model was able to predict the movements of

the planets with certain accuracy but it was not able to
explain the observable changes in the phases of Venus.
COPERNICUS AND A HELIOCENTRIC UNIVERSE
• Nicolaus Copernicus
introduced the concept of a
heliocentric universe -- the sun
is at its center.

• He explained that Earth is only

one of the many planets that
revolve around the sun.

Copernican model of the universe.

COPERNICUS AND A HELIOCENTRIC UNIVERSE
• Taking the apparent movement of the stars in the sky into
account, he explained that Earth spins around its axis.

• His model was able to successfully explain the observed

changes in the phases of Venus.
 The heliocentric model places the sun as the center of the
1 solar system and the planets orbit around it.

The geocentric model has the earth at the center of the

2 solar system and the sun together with all the other
planets orbiting around it.
 Ancient Greek astronomer, Eudoxus of Cnidus presented a
mathematical theory of the universe model. Eudoxus of
3 Cnidus proposed a model of the universe to explain the
apparent opposite motion of some planets (called
retrograde motion).

Aristarchus of Samos is the first person to attempt to

4 calculate the distance of the earth to the sun during the
3rd century BCE.
 Roman astronomer, Ptolemy adapted Aristotle’s
geocentric theory of the universe. Ptolemy’s idea is that
the planets do not orbit in perfect circles around the
5 earth. Some planetary objects like the Mars appear to

move backwards first then move forward in large loops.

Polish astronomer, Nicolaus Copernicus introduced the

concept of a heliocentric universe where the sun serves as
6 its center. He explained that Earth is only one of the many
planets that revolve around the sun.
COMPLETE THE VENN DIAGRAM TO COMPARE
THE HELIOCENTRIC AND GEOCENTRIC MODELS
OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM.