Exam 1 Practice Flashcards
phases
a certain portion of a planet’s area that reflects sunlight as viewed from a given vantage point; as well as the period of time during which it occurs
sunspots
dark spots discovered by Galileo on the surface of the Sun; change over time
gravity
the force that keeps the objects in the Solar System in circular orbits (astronomical definition); the gravitational force of the Sun pulls objects inwards, causing their paths to curve around the Sun
What is the order of the planets in our Solar System?
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune
What were the major pieces of evidence for a heliocentric Solar System?
The geocentric model was based on some evidence; however, a majority of it was based on the principle that the Earth was God’s creation and was the holiest creation, and thus everything in space was centered around it.
The geocentric model could also not explain the retrograde motions of some planets as well as the heliocentric model. Sorry, Ptolemy.
With the use of the telescope he stole, Galileo observed the movement of Jupiter’s 4 moons and realized that the moons orbit Jupiter. This notion of smaller objects orbiting larger objects continued with the moons and other planets.
Galileo also observed the phases of Venus around the Sun. He realized that the full phase of Venus can only be observed if Venus orbits around to the far side of the Sun.
Galileo also observed imperfections in the Moon (craters) and Sun (sunspots), which disproves the notion that planets and moons of the Solar System were created as heavenly bodies. Take that L Christianity and Catholicism.
