Chapter 3 Quiz Jessica Horn

1. How did Copernicus, Tycho, and Kepler challenge the Earth centered model?

• Copernicus created a Sun-centered model of the solar system
• This model was designed to replace the Ptolemaic model
• Unfortunately, this model was no more accurate than Ptolemy's because Copernicus still used perfect circles
• Tycho's accurate, naked-eye observations provided needed data
• This needed data improved on Copernicus's model
• Kepler developed a model of planetary motion that fit Tycho's data 

  

2.What are Kepler's three laws of planetary motion?

1. Kepler's first law: The orbit of each planet around the Sun is an ellipse with the Sun at one focus.
2.  Kepler's second law: As a planet moves around its orbit, it sweeps out equal areas in equal times. This means that the planet travels faster when it is nearer to the Sun and slower when it is farther from the Sun. 
3. Kepler's third law: More distant planets orbit the Sun slower averages speeds, obeying the relationship.

3.How did Galileo solidify the Copernican revolution?

• Galileo's experiments and telescopic observations overcame remaining objections to the Copernican idea of Earth orbiting the Sun
• Although these results were not immediately accepted, Galileo's findings sealed the case for the Sun centering the solar system

4.How can we distinguish science from nonscience?

     

•  Defining science can be surprisingly difficult. Science, in Latin, means "knowledge." But not all knowledge comes from science. The idealized scientific method is based on proposing and testing a hypothesis, or an educated guess. But science rarely proceeds in this idealized way. For example: sometimes we start by "just looking" then coming up with possible explanations. Sometimes we follow intuition rather than a particular line of evidence. Hallmarks of Science #1: Modern science seeks explanations for observed phenomena that rely solely on natural causes (A scientific model cannot include dive intervention). Hallmarks of Science #2: Science progresses through creation and testing of models of nature that explain the observations as simply as possible (simplicity = "occam's razor). Hallmarks of Science #3: A scientific model must make testable predictions about natural phenomena that would force us to revise or abandon the model if the predictions do not agree with observations.  

 5.What is a scientific theory?

•   The word "theory" has a different meaning in science than in everyday life. In science, a theory is NOT the same as a hypothesis. A scientific theory must: explain a variety of observations with a few simple principles  be supported by large, compelling body of evidence, NOT have failed any crucial test of its validity. Darwin's Theory of evolution meets all the criteria of scientific theory. This means after more than 100 years of testing, Darwin's theory stands stronger than ever, having successfully met every scientific challenge to its validity. 

6.What does the universe look like from Earth?

• As stars and other celestial objects appear to lie on a great celestial sphere that surrounds Earth, this sphere is divided constellations with well defined borders
• From any location on Earth, human s see half of the celestial sphere that appears to be the dome of our local sky
• In which, the horizon is the boundary between Earth and the sky
• The zenith is the point directly overhead
• The meridian runs from due south to due north through the zenith

   

7. Why was planetary motion so hard to explain?

• Because of apparent retrograde motion
• This motion occurs when Earth passes by or is passed by another planet in its orbit
• But it posed a major mystery to ancient people who assumed Earth to be the center of the universe

8.Why did the ancient Greeks reject the real explanation for planetary motion?

•  They rejected the idea that Earth goes around the sun because they could not detect the stellar parallax
• To most Greeks, it seemed unlikely that the stars could be so far away as to make parallax undetectable to the naked eye
• Even though that is the case

9.In what ways do all humans use scientific thinking?

• As demonstrated in an organized manner, humans use scientific thinking in their everyday lives.
• Scientific thinking relies on the same type of trial-and-error techniques that are used in everyday situations

10.How did astronomical observations benefit ancient societies?

• Ancient societies used astronomical observations to keep track of time and seasons, which provided the crucial skills for people who depended on agriculture for survival
• Astronomical observations also aided in navigation

Sources: Textbook and Notes