Ancient Greeks and the Spherical Earth
30 Questions
1 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What shape did Aristotle believe the Earth and celestial bodies were?

  • Oval
  • Sphere (correct)
  • Triangle
  • Square

    • What did Aristotle consider to be the perfect shape?

  • Circle (correct)
  • Rectangle
  • Square
  • Triangle

    • What was the material that Aristotle believed made up the heavens?

  • Water
  • Fire
  • Air
  • Ether (correct)

    • Why did Aristotle believe the Earth was imperfect?

    <p>Because it was constantly changing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one of Aristotle's arguments for the Earth being a sphere?

    <p>The Earth's shadow is always circular</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why did Aristotle believe that the Earth's component pieces would form a sphere?

    <p>Because of the gravitational attraction towards the center</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is credited with being the first to propose that the Earth was round?

    <p>Pythagoras</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What observation did Aristotle make about the stars in Egypt and Cyprus?

    <p>Some stars seen in Egypt could not be seen in Cyprus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Pythagoras use to support his idea of a spherical Earth?

    <p>Aesthetic grounds and the concept of perfect shape</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the basis of Aristotle's argument that the Earth was a sphere?

    <p>The perfection of the spherical shape and the heavens being regions of perfection</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Eratosthenes and Aristarchus do together?

    <p>Calculated the circumference of the Earth</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the significance of Polaris in Pythagoras' idea of a spherical Earth?

    <p>It was a star that appeared to shift to a higher position in the sky as one journeyed north</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of astronomy as a science?

    <p>Determination of the positions, dimensions, and movements of celestial bodies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What observation did Aristotle make during lunar eclipses to support a spherical earth model?

    <p>The curvature of the earth's shadow on the moon is consistent</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What would a flat penny produce if rotated 90 degrees to the sunlight?

    <p>An entirely different shape</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary reason for the changing seasons on Earth?

    <p>The planet is slightly tilted on its axis as it travels around the Sun</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why does Aristotle's observation of lunar eclipses support a spherical earth model?

    <p>Because the earth's shadow has a consistent curvature</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What occurs when the Sun is at its closest point to the equatorial plane?

    <p>Equinox</p> Signup and view all the answers

    At which point in their orbit do planets move the fastest?

    <p>When they are at their closest point to the Sun</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the implication of observing the Pole Star's position in the sky during short travels northwards?

    <p>The earth is spherical</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the greatest distance between a planet or other body and the Sun?

    <p>Aphelion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the shape of a sphere differ from a flat penny in terms of shadow production?

    <p>A sphere produces a consistent curvature, while a flat penny produces different shapes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of observing similar curvatures during multiple lunar eclipses?

    <p>It proves that the earth is spherical</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following celestial bodies is closest to the Earth?

    <p>The Sun</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the antumbra in a shadow?

    <p>The lighter part of a shadow that forms at a certain distance from the object casting the shadow</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of eclipse occurs when the Sun or Moon is completely obscured?

    <p>Total eclipse</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the origin of the word 'planet'?

    <p>It comes from the Greek word 'planetes', meaning 'wanderer'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which planet is known as the 'Morning Star' or 'Evening Star'?

    <p>Venus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a unique feature of Jupiter?

    <p>It has a massive storm, the Great Red Spot</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many confirmed moons does Saturn have?

    <p>146 moons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    More Like This

    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser