16 Questions
What was the ancient Mesopotamian civilization's belief about the Earth's shape?
A flat plate
Who was the Greek mathematician who proved that the Earth is round?
Eratosthenes
What did Eratosthenes observe about the sun's rays in Alexandria?
They were at an angle of 7.2 degrees
What was the prevailing theory of the universe before Eratosthenes' discovery?
The Earth is the center of the universe
What did Aristotle propose about the movement of celestial bodies?
They revolved around the Earth
What was Ptolemy's contribution to the understanding of the universe?
He proposed that the Earth is the center of the universe
What did Eratosthenes measure accurately using his observations?
The radius of the Earth
What was the ancient people's initial belief about the shape of the Earth?
It was flat
What did people of the Earth believe in for almost two thousand years?
That the Earth was the center of the universe
What was peculiar about the movement of the planets in the sky?
They paused and moved in the opposite direction
What did Copernicus propose in his book in 1544?
That the Earth and other planets revolved around the Sun
What happened to Copernicus' book after his death?
It was published again almost 100 years later
Who supported Copernicus' theory after observing the sky with a telescope?
Galileo
Why did the Catholic Church get furious with Galileo?
Because his theory contradicted their theological beliefs
What did the Catholic Church do to Galileo after he supported Copernicus' theory?
They put him on trial and kept him under house arrest
How many planets are mentioned in the text as revolving around the Sun?
8
Study Notes
Evolution of Cosmology
- In ancient times, people believed in a flat Earth with a bowl-shaped sky, clouds, moon, sun, and stars revolving around it.
- The ancient Mesopotamian civilization believed in a flat Earth floating on a vast ocean, covered by a round sky.
- In 240 BC, Eratosthenes observed that the sun's rays fell at 7.2 degrees 800 kilometers away from Alexandria, leading him to conclude that the Earth is round.
- Eratosthenes accurately measured the Earth's radius by comparing the difference of the fallen angle and the distance between them.
Geocentric Model
- Aristotle and Ptolemy proposed the geocentric model, where the Earth is the center of the universe, and all planets, stars, moon, and sun revolve around it.
- This model was widely accepted for nearly 2000 years, supported by religious texts and perceived natural explanations.
Heliocentric Model
- Copernicus wrote a book in 1444 proposing the heliocentric model, where the Earth and other planets revolve around the sun.
- Copernicus' theory was initially not widely accepted, but it was later published again and gained popularity among scientists.
- Galileo supported Copernicus' theory, observing the planets with a telescope, and confirmed that they revolve around the sun.
- The Catholic Church opposed Galileo's views, contradicting their theological beliefs, and put him on trial.
The Solar System
- The Sun is at the center of the solar system, with eight planets orbiting around it: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
- The relative sizes of the planets can be observed in relation to the Sun.
Explore the evolution of cosmology, the creation of the solar system, and constellations, as well as the prevailing superstition of astrology in this chapter.
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