History Of Astronomy Quiz

Front 1

Astronomy

Back 1

The branch of science that deals with celestial objects, space, and the physical universe as a whole

Front 2

Astrology

Back 2

The study of the movements and relative positions of celestial bodies interpreted as having an influence in human affairs and the natural world

Front 3

What is the key difference between astronomy and astrology?

Back 3

Astronomy is a study based off facts, astrology is the attempt of a study of the affects of what astronomy has discovered on the people and events of earth

Front 4

What does planet mean in Greek?

Back 4

Planítis

Front 5

Plato was the student of which famous philosopher?

Back 5

Socrates

Front 6

Was Plato's theory of the universe geocentric or heliocentric?

Back 6

Geocentric

Front 7

What do Aristarchus and Aristotle have in common?

Back 7

They were both students of Plato

Front 8

How did Aristarchus and Aristotle disagree?

Back 8

Aristotle's believed the universe was geocentric, Aristarchus thought the universe was heliocentric.

Front 9

Were Aristotle's predictions of heavenly motion qualitative or quantitative?

Back 9

Qualitative

Front 10

When did Aristarchus of Samos propose his heliocentric model?

Back 10

200 BC

Front 11

Why wasn't Aristarchus's heliocentric proposal accepted in 200 BC?

Back 11

It contrasted with Aristotle's geocentric beliefs

Front 12

Apparent retrograde motion

Back 12

The view of a planet going backwards compared to the other planets within the solar system, depending on the vantage point

Front 13

How is Ptolemy pronounced?

Back 13

too-lum-ee

Front 14

Epicycle

Back 14

A geocentric model used to explain the variations in speed and direction of the apparent motion of the moon, sun, and planets

Front 15

Deferent

Back 15

Where the central point in the universe is not the earth but a point in space

Front 16

Was Ptolemy's theory geocentric or heliocentric?

Back 16

Geocentric

Front 17

What three incorrect ideas that held back the development of modern astronomy from the time of Aristotle until the 18th century?

Back 17

1) the assumption that the earth was the center of the universe

2) the assumption of uniform circular motion in the heavens

3) the assumption that objects in the heavens were made from a perfect, unchanging substance not found on the earth

Front 18

Parallax

Back 18

The angle sub tended at a celestial body by the radius of the earths orbit

Front 19

Example of parallax

Back 19

Sit still and focus on object. Cover alternate eyes, the object looks like it is moving

Front 20

What is the Copernican theory of the universe?

Back 20

The position of the sun near the center of the universe, motionless, with earth and the other planets rotating around it in a circular paths modified by epicycles and at uniform speeds

Front 21

Is the Copernican theory geocentric or heliocentric?

Back 21

Heliocentric

Front 22

How did the Copernican theory explain retrograde motion?

Back 22

Epicycles

Front 23

What key factor kept the Copernican theory from being accepted at first?

Back 23

The Roman Catholic Church had decided that earth was the center of the universe and any contrary opinions were heresy

Front 24

How long did people believe in a geocentric universe before Copernicus published his theory?

Back 24

1500 years