Download Copernican Revolution

Christopher Nay
4/23/12
Physics
Copernican Revolution
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For many centuries the earth was believed to be the center of our solar system. The sun
and the observed planets were believed to spherically
orbit the earth. The Ptolemaic, or geocentric, model
explained the peculiar motion of the planets (slowing
down, coming to a stop and even moving slightly
backward before continuing on their normal rotation)
with multiple rotating spheres, a rotation within the
rotation around the earth. The explanation of the epicycles of the rotating celestial bodies in the
Ptolemaic model is why it held ground for so many years. Nicolaus Copernicus was familiar with
the ancient Greek model of the sun-centered solar system and even completed a draft of the
heliocentric model many years before it was published.
One of Copernicus’ pupils prompted him to complete
the model and publish it along with the mathematical
details for his model.
The Copernican model held some of the same
inaccuracies of the Ptolemaic model, with its circular
orbits, and uniform speed of the planets, but it did offer
Image 2
some innovations. Notions such as: the earth being one of seven planets orbiting the sun; it
explained the recessive motion of the planets due to the motion of the earth.
Aristotle was a proponent of the Ptolemaic model. It is more appropriate to say that
Aristotle formulated a model of the universe than merely the solar system, since that is what he
believed; the earth was the center of the universe. This medieval approach to the universe made
sense, if you look at everything from only the perspective of the earth. The earth as the center of
the universe was not only the scientific belief, but was the religious standard as well.
Copernicus’ revolutionary idea of the heliocentric universe did not catch on quickly
among some, and even drew opposition from the Catholic Church. Geocentric belief in some
ways derived directly from the scriptures. To believe that the earth was not the center of the
universe was blasphemous. At least that was according to the Church’s interpretation of the
scriptures. The church saw Copernicus’s discoveries as “accepted dogma by pagan philosophers
and misinterpreted verses of Scripture” (Voices). Religious beliefs held more importance at the
time than scientific ones which is why Copernicus kept most of his opinions to himself before
publishing his book near the end of his life.
A follower of Copernicus and his heliocentric model
of the universe was Galileo Galilee. Galileo used scripture to
argue on the side of heliocentric belief. He argued that
“scripture teaches us how to go to heaven, not how the
heavens go” (Galileo) Copernicus’s model did not hold much
weight until Galileo was able to make observations about the
planets using a telescope. Using his own engineered
telescopes Galileo was able to observe the planet Venus and
Image 3
the phases that the planet goes through. This evidence backed up the heliocentric view of the
solar system, or what would shortly be known as the solar system and not the universe. After
publishing his finding, Galileo was asked, or threatened, by the church to reclaim his heretical
ideas.
Johannes Kepler, a mathematician and a student of Tycho Brahe, explained some of the
irregularities of the circular form of the solar system that
Copernicus had not been able to. By observing the orbit
of Mars, he explained that the orbits of the planets in the
solar system must be ellipses. Sir Isaac Newton further
proved this theory by trying his experiments on
gravitational forces. He found that the same laws that
govern earth also govern heavenly bodies. Therefore, the
rotation of the planets must be an ellipse.
Image 4
The works of these scientists and astronomers laid the path for modern scientific beliefs.
Scientific Revolution, which is more of a change in the way of thinking than a particular event, is
what the works of these great men helped to achieve. The Copernican Revolution was just one
step on the path to a more knowledgeable future.
Works Cited
24 Apr. 2012. http://voices.yahoo.com/the-copernican-revolution-unnecessary-science-religion-2608697.html
25 Apr. 2012. http://galileo.rice.edu/sci/theories/copernican_system.html
Images Cited
Image 1 – 23 Apr. 2012. http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/retrograde/aristotle.html.
Image 2 – the copernican universe. 25 Apr. 2012. http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/retrograde/
copernican.html.
Image 3 – telescope. 26 Apr. 2012. http://galileo.rice.edu/sci/instruments/telescope.html.
Image 4 – gravity. 26 Apr. 2012. http://rooasksforopinions.blogspot.com/.
Works Consulted
http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/retrograde/aristotle.html.
http://www.biblicalcreation.org.uk/biblical_studies/Tyler_Copernican-revolution96.pdf.
Reflection on Writing
The greatest thing that stood out to me while researching the Copernican revolution was
the accepted state of the universe at that time. It seems so obvious now that the sun in the center
of our solar system, and earth is but one planet amongst billions of stars. But at the same time
this logic can make sense if you look at things from a narrow view, or believing in only what is
right before your eyes, which is all they could see. They only saw the perspective of the earth.
This made me wonder if even today we, with all our advanced sciences and understanding and
comprehension of the universe, are still in a state comparable to that before the scientific
revolution. How much of our understanding may be flawed because we merely have not seen
enough to truly understand the workings of the universe? Are we still in the stone age of our full
understanding and potential?