P1 - topic 1 - changing ideas about the solar system Flashcards
what is the geocentric model?
the idea that the sun, moon, planets and stars al orbited the Earth in perfect circles
the geocentric models states that everything orbits the Earth in what?
perfect circles
when was the geocentric model accepted till?
1500’s
when did the geocentric model start to be replaced by the heliocentric model?
1600’s
what does the heliocentric model state?
the Earth and planets all orbit the sun, which is at the centre of the universe
when and who introduced the heliocentric model?
Copernicus in 1543
why wasn’t Copernicus’ ideas about the universe popular at the time?
the model itself wasn’t condemned by the church
what was one of the most convincing pieces of evidence for the heliocentric model?
Galileos observations of jupiters moons
what were the stages of galileos discovery?
1) in 1610 Galileo was observing Jupiter using a tekescope
2) he saw 3 stars in a line near the planet
3) he looked again the next evening when he saw these stars had been moved in the wrong direction
4) after a week, a fourth star appeared
5) stars never moved away from Jupiter
6) he realised they weren’t stars, they were moons orbiting Jupiter
how did the geocentric model get proven wrong?
Galileo discovered that there was four moons orbiting Jupiter so not everything was in orbit around the Earth
what did ancient Greeks think about the solar system?
the earth was the centre of the universe
what does the current model about the universe say?
the planets in our solar system orbit the sun elliptically
what’s the difference between the current model and the heliocentric model?
the orbits are elliptical rather than circular
why/how have the ideas about the universe changed?
technology has improved so the idea of the solar system and universe have changed e.g telescopes
how do you discover things about the universe?
detect waves from objects in space
why can we see planets?
they reflect sunlight
what is example of objects in space detecting waves?
stars give out lots of visible light (why you can see them even when they are very far away)
how did early astronomers make observations about the universe?
using the naked eye
what was the only thing that the naked eye was useful for?
making the position of stars, comets and planets
what were discovered by the naked eye?
stars
comets
planets
what do telescopes do?
magnify an image, so distance objects can be seen in more detail and are at lager distances
has telescopes discovered new objects?
yes
what has telescopes helped us do?
learn more about the universe
what kind of telescopes are expensive?
space
photographs are taken using what to make it zoom in more?
telescopes
why are photographs use instead of telescopes?
1) easier to monitor planets
2) easier to compare
3) provides E widened to share your discoveries
4) more accurate
5) saves time
What does the current model say?
The planets in our solar system orbit the am but these orbits are actually elliptical rather than circular
As technology has improved what has changed?
Our idea of the solar system and the universe has changed
The invention of the telescope led to the discovery of what planet?
Uranus
Visible light can tell us a lot about what?
The universe
How do scientists know stuff about the universe?
By detecting waves from objects in space
What gives out a lot of visible light?
Stars
Why can we see stars even though they’re very far away?
They give out lots of visible light
Why can we see planets in our solar system?
They reflect sunlight
How did early astronomers make observations about our solar system?
Using the naked eye
Astronomical objects that are so far away and look so small that the naked eye observations are only useful for what?
Mapping their positions
What very important discoveries were found using the naked eye?
Stars
Comets
Planets
What do telescopes do?
Magnify images
When telescopes magnify images would does it allow us to do?
See distant objects in more detail and see objects that are at larger distances
Using telescopes have helped us learn what?
More about how the universe is made up
Do telescopes on earth have problems?
Yes
Space telescopes can overcome the issues that earth telescopes have but what is the disadvantage?
They’re expensive
How do telescopes allow photographs of the universe to be taken?
They allow you to ‘zoom in’ and look at objects in more detail
Taking photographs of the universe makes it easier to do what:
Monitor an object but taking pictures at different times to compare them
Share your observations with others
See faint objects by allowing a long exposure time so you collect more light - which can’t be done with the naked eye
