1 / 7

Ancient Greek Models of Nature and their Influence on Modern Science

Explore the Greek origins of scientific modeling and their attempts to explain natural patterns without myth or supernatural explanations. Learn about the influential geocentric models of Plato, Aristotle, and Ptolemy, as well as the challenges posed by Copernicus, Tycho, and Kepler. Discover how these advancements paved the way for our modern understanding of the universe.

tresa
Download Presentation

Ancient Greek Models of Nature and their Influence on Modern Science

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Chapter 3The Science of Astronomy

  2. Why does modern science trace its roots to the Greeks? • Greeks were the first people known to make models of nature. • They tried to explain patterns in nature without resorting to myth or the supernatural. Greek geocentric model (c. 400 B.C.)

  3. How did the Greeks explain planetary motion? • Plato: All heavenly bodies move in perfect circles at constant speed. • Aristotle: Earth’s position at the center of the universe is a natural consequence of gravity. Plato Aristotle

  4. The most sophisticated geocentric model was that of Ptolemy (A.D. 100-170) — the Ptolemaic model: Ptolemy

  5. In Ptolemy’s model, planets really do go backward.

  6. How did Copernicus, Tycho, and Kepler challenge the Earth-centered model? • Proposed a Sun-centered model (published 1543) But . . . • The model was no more accurate than the Ptolemaic model in predicting planetary positions, because it still used perfect circles. Copernicus (1473-1543)

  7. Compiled the most accurate naked eye measurements ever made of Mars. • Used the moon’s parallax to determine that a nova and supernova he observed were not in the Earth’s atmosphere, but lay much farther away. Tycho Brahe (1546-1601)

More Related