Download Geocentric vs. Heliocentric Models Worksheet

Name
Geocentric Model
Early civilizations were aware of how celestial objects,
Period
Date
REGENTS EARTH SCIENCE
Geocentric vs. Heliocentric Worksheet
such as the sun and moon, appeared to move through the sky
from east to west. Because these people could not feel Earth
moving, they believed that Earth was located at the center of the
universe, and the sun and planets revolved around it. Their model
of the universe was geocentric, or Earth-centered. The image on
the right depicts the geocentric model.
Heliocentric Model
Detailed observations by astronomers in the 16th and 17th centuries eventually made the
geocentric model difficult to accept.
When the paths of the planets were
carefully measured and plotted in
an Earth-centered model, some of
the planetary motions were very
complex and hard to explain.
Astronomers began to prefer a
similar model. In the Heliocentric
model, the eight planets, including Earth, revolve around the sun while rotating on axes. This model
accounts for the apparent motion of the sun, moon and stars across the sky. The image above
illustrates the heliocentric model.
Questions: Please answer the following using complete sentences:
1) Where is the Earth located in a geocentric model?
2) Which apparent motion is explained by a geocentric model?
3) How does the heliocentric model work?
4) How does the geocentric model differ from the heliocentric model?
Regents Questions:
5) Which planetary model allows a scientist to predict the exact positions of the planets in the night sky over
many years?
A) The planets' orbits are circles in a geocentric model.
B) The planets' orbits are circles in a heliocentric model.
C) The planets' orbits are ellipses in a heliocentric model.
D) The planets' orbits are ellipses in a geocentric model.
6) Which object orbits Earth in both the Earth-centered (geocentric) and Sun-centered (heliocentric) models of
our solar system?
A) the Moon
B) the Sun
C) Polaris
D) Venus
7) The actual shape of the Earth's orbit around the Sun is best described as
A) a very eccentric ellipse
C) an oblate spheroid
B) a slightly eccentric ellipse
D) a perfect circle
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8) According to Kepler's Law of Planetary Motion, the farther a planet is located from the Sun, the
A) longer its period of revolution
C) shorter its period of rotation
B) longer its period of rotation
D) shorter its period of revolution
9) The diagram below represents a simple geocentric model. Which object is represented by the letter X?
A) Sun
B) Moon
C) Earth
D) Polaris
10) The period of time a planet takes to make one revolution around the Sun is most dependent on the planet's
average
A) rotation rate
C) insolation from the Sun
B) distance from the Sun
D) mass
11) The cartoon below refers to an Earth motion.
Which statement should the cartoon characters use to accurately describe the Earth's turning motion?
A) Earth rotates in the heliocentric model.
C) Earth revolves in the geocentric model.
B) Earth rotates in the geocentric model.
D) Earth revolves in the heliocentric model.
12) Which apparent motion can be explained by a geocentric model?
A) motion of a Foucault pendulum
C) curved path of projectiles
B) daily motion of the Sun
D) deflection of the wind
13) The diagram below represents our solar system.
This system is best classified as
A) heliocentric, with circular orbits
B) geocentric, with elliptical orbits
C) geocentric, with circular orbits
D) heliocentric, with elliptical orbits
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