The Cosmic Engine hscnotes宇宙发动机hscnotes.docVIP

The Cosmic Engine 8.5.1 outline the historical developments of models of the Universe from the time of Aristotle to the time of Newton identify data sources, and gather, process and analyse information to assess one of the models of the Universe developed from the time of Aristotle to the time of Newton to identify limitations placed on the development of the model by technology available at the time. Aristotle – He believes that the Earth was at the centre of the universe and that the Sun, the Moon and the visible planets, as well as a celestial sphere containing all the stars revolved around the Earth. Aristotle had no technology with which to examine the heaven, other than his eyes. To the unaided eye it looks as though everything is revolving around the earth and it does not feel that the Earth is moving at all. This type of model, with the Earth placed at the centre of the Universe is known as a geocentric model. Aristotle’s model used a system of 55 transparent concentric spheres rotating around the Earth to explain the observed motion of the stars and planets. Aristarchus – He put forward an alternative view. He suggested that: the Sun is much bigger than the Earth the sun is at the centre of the Universe and the Earth orbits it the Earth rotates on its axis once per day, producing the apparent motion of the Sun and stars. A model such as this, with the Sun at the centre of the Universe, is known as a heliocentric model. This model was however not favoured because it was not sufficiently detailed to allow predictions in the manner of Aristotles Ptolemy – Ptolemy was able to develop and refine the geocentric model of the universe by Aristotle into his own geocentric model. The model he proposed was remarkable in predicting the observed motions of the planets. This model lasted for over 1400 years because: It worked, that is it could predict the position of a planet to within 2°. It accounted for the observed planetary motions, retrograde motion and varia