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Chapter 4
More questions from class
18
Astronomy
Undergraduate 1
02/11/2009

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Term
How far back do monuments with astronomical significance date back to?
Definition
3ooo BC
Term
Many of the mentioned monuments could be used to predict what?
Definition
Eclipses
Term
What was stonehenge probably used as?
Definition
A calender
Term
Who are the first preserved written documents about astronomy from?
Definition
Anciet Greek philosophy
Term
What two principles did ancient Greek philosophers generally produce incorrect models on?
Definition
1. Geocentric Universe
2. Perfect Heavens (motions of all celestial bodies described by motions of objects with "perfect shapes")
Term
Define Geocentric universe
Definition
Earth at Center of the universe
Term
Ptolemy refined the astronomical model by including what?
Definition
Epicycles
Term
The Ptolemaic system was considered the standard model of the Universe until what?
Definition
the Copernican revolution
Term
Copernicus was the first to introduce the model for what kind of universe?
Definition
Heliocentric
Term
Define heliocentric universe.
Definition
Sun in the center of the universe
Term
When does the retrograde (westward) motion occur?
Definition
When the earth passes the planet
Term
Who was the first to report observations of the sky to support the Copernican Model?
Definition
Galileo Galilei
Term
List five of Galileo's major astronomical discoveries
Definition
1. Moons of Jupiter (four Galilean moons)
2. Rings of Saturn
3. surface structures on moon
4. Sun spots
5. phases of Venus proving that venus orbits the sun and not earth
Term
What two ideas did Kepler abandon that enabled him to formulate a consistant model of the universe?
Definition
Circular motion and uniform motion
Term
What is Kepler's first law?
Definition
the orbits of the planets are ellipses with the sun at one focus
Term
What is Keplers second law?
Definition
The line from the planet to the sun sweeps over equal areas in equal intervals of time
Term
What is Kepler's third law?
Definition
A planet's orbital period (p)squared is proportional to it's average distance from the sun (a) cubed.
Term
Does a planet move faster when it's closer to the sun or farther from the sun?
Definition
when it's closer
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