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How did astronomy resolve the issue of the geocentric theory versus the heliocentric theory during the scientific revolution?
First there were several different theories put forward to explain the movements of the planets. The main ones are Ptolemy (geocentric) and then Copernicus (heliocentric). Both theories explained the positions of the planets within the accuracy of the observations that were made at the time (up to the 1580s). Both theories used combinations of circles to model the planets' orbits. Then Tycho Brahe came on the scene with much improved equipment for measuring the planets' positions with unprecedented accuracy. Although Tycho believed in the geocentric idea, his observations were used by Johannes Kepler to create a new heliocentric theory in which the planets move in elliptical orbits, published in 1609. At that time there was no way of knowing which theory was right, except that Kepler's theory fitted the observations best. By the end of the 1600s, scientists had made significant discoveries in dynamics, the science of moving objects, and in gravity. The laws of motion and the law of gravity were used by Isaac Newton to prove theoretically that a planet in the Sun's gravity field must move in an elliptical orbit. This achievement put Kepler's theory in the spotlight, where it has been ever since. Apart from tiny corrections from relativity, Kepler's heliocentric theory is the one still used today.
What year did Brahe and Kepler work together to defend the heliocentric theory?
Tycho Brahe was a nobleman and a difficult character, and it would have been beneath his dignity to 'work together' with Kepler, one of his employees. Most of Kepler's work was done after Brahe's death when he gained access to the figures from Brahe's detailed high-quality measurements. Kepler used the measurements and assumed the heliocentric idea - the Sun at the centre - to produce his three laws of planetary motion. Many years later Newton's discoveries of the laws of motion and the law of gravity, plus his use of differential calculus, showed why Kepler's laws are as they are, and the heliocentric theory was later generally accepted.
Isaac newton's theory of natural law?
Sir Isaac Newton is best known for having invented the calculus in the mid to late 1660s (most of a decade before Leibniz did so independently, and ultimately more influentially) and for having formulated the theory of universal gravity -
Why did periodic law come to be accepted even if it could not be initially explained?
It was not a "law". It was considered a theory. All theories are best guesses using all known information until further information comes along. Gravity is a theory.
Did Galileo develop theory that what makes apples fall keeps planets in their orbits?
No. Galileo experimented with gravity and began developing the theory. But Sir Isaac Newton was the mathematician who proposed the inverse-square law of universal gravitation, which hypothesized that gravity is what keeps the planets in their orbs. He said that his theory was inspired by watching an apple fall from a tree.
How does newtons law affect the force of gravity?
The law doesn't affect gravity; it describes it.
Does a scientific law become a scientific theory?
A theory, when proven over time, can become a law. Example: Law of Gravity and Theory of Evolution
What is the diffrence between scientific law and scientific theory?
A law is known to be true. There is no dispute about it. A theory is disputable. Gravity is a law, the Big Bang is a theory.
What is heilocentric theory?
The heliocentric idea is that the Sun is at the centre of the solar system and it replaced the alternative geocentric system (in which the Earth was at the centre) gradually from about 1680 to 1840 as more and more scientific showed that it was the best model. Finally when stellar parallax was discovered in 1838 by Bessel most astronomers were forced to accept the heliocentric theory, which includes Kepler's laws of planetary motion and Newton's law of gravity and the laws of motion.
Why is the law of gravity a scientific law- not a scientific theory?
In general, a scientific theory is a proposed explanation that has not been fully proven yet, while a law is a theory that has been proven to be true by lots of experimentation. The theory of Gravity has been tested and shown to be correct so much that it is at this point clearly a scientific law.
Name the theory that describes gravity?
Newton's Law of gravitation
What explanation does the theory of general relativity provide for gravity?
Gravity is a result of curved spacetime But apart from providing that abstract concept it does not provide any mechanism or explanation.
How did the law of gravity affect society?
It makes societies stay on the ground.
What did Galileo discover that gave support to the heliocentric theory?
The Jovian moons. Galileo had little evidence for the heliocentric theory, which was later (in the 18th century) generally accepted as correct after the laws of motion and the law of gravity showed that the Sun is by far the most massive object in the solar system and therefore must be at the centre. Galileo did not have the other major piece of evidence supporting the heliocentric theory, which is the parallax shown by relatively close stars as the Earth moves round its orbit. Parallax is extremely small and was impossible to observe in Galileo's time, and this was used to support the idea that the Earth is at the centre. Bessel made the first measurements of parallax in the 19th century.
How did astronomy resolve the issue of the geocentric theory versus the heliocentric theory during the scientific revolution?
First there were several different theories put forward to explain the movements of the planets. The main ones are Ptolemy (geocentric) and then Copernicus (heliocentric). Both theories explained the positions of the planets within the accuracy of the observations that were made at the time (up to the 1580s). Both theories used combinations of circles to model the planets' orbits. Then Tycho Brahe came on the scene with much improved equipment for measuring the planets' positions with unprecedented accuracy. Although Tycho believed in the geocentric idea, his observations were used by Johannes Kepler to create a new heliocentric theory in which the planets move in elliptical orbits, published in 1609. At that time there was no way of knowing which theory was right, except that Kepler's theory fitted the observations best. By the end of the 1600s, scientists had made significant discoveries in dynamics, the science of moving objects, and in gravity. The laws of motion and the law of gravity were used by Isaac Newton to prove theoretically that a planet in the Sun's gravity field must move in an elliptical orbit. This achievement put Kepler's theory in the spotlight, where it has been ever since. Apart from tiny corrections from relativity, Kepler's heliocentric theory is the one still used today.
What was significant about Newton's theory?
Isaac Newton's Law of Gravity was significant, in that he claimed his Theoiry of Gravity, applied to the apple falling from a tree, the moon falling and the earth falling around the sun. He claimed that his Theory applied throughout the universe! A Universal law of Physics.
What are geocentric and heliocentric theories?
The two theories differ in what occupies the centre of the solar system. Is it the Earth (the geocentric theory) or the Sun (the heliocentric theory)? We now know the Sun is at the centre because in the 18th century it was found that it is by far the most massive object in the solar system. Also, with the right equipment we can see the positions of the nearest stars change as the Earth moves in its orbit round the Sun. So the heliocentric theory rules. Before that the geocentric theory was used, based on a literal interpretation of The Bible. Ptolemy's theory with the Earth at the centre used a system of circles and epicycles to predict the positions of planets, and it worked quite accurately. The heliocentric theory was proposed by Nicolas Copernicus in the early 1500s. Later Galileo had a famous dispute with the Catholic Church over it. Galileo started by saying he had proofs of the heliocentric theory but the Cardinals were too stupid to understand them. Eventually he was forced to admit there was no proof based on the scientific evidence available at that time. The proof came in the next century after Newton's laws of motion and law of gravity were used in detailed calculations that explained the planets' orbits and allowed the mass of the Sun and planets to be calculated.
