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Over the past week, we have learned about the geocentric model of the universe and this trivia is perfect for seeing just how much you got to understand about it and the other model which was put in place to oppose it. The geocentric model assumes that the earth is fixed at the center of the universe. Take the quiz and see how much you know.
Questions and Answers
1.
Objects in our sky always seem to move throughout the year because the Earth never stops __________________.
Explanation Objects in our sky always seem to move throughout the year because the Earth never stops spinning. The rotation of the Earth on its axis causes the apparent movement of celestial objects such as the Sun, Moon, and stars. As the Earth spins, different parts of its surface are exposed to the Sun, resulting in the cycle of day and night. Additionally, the Earth's rotation causes the celestial objects to appear to rise and set at different times, creating the illusion of their movement across the sky throughout the year.
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2.
__________________ objects are objects that appear in the sky like planets, moons, stars, comets, and more.
Explanation The term "celestial" refers to objects that can be observed or found in the sky, such as planets, moons, stars, and comets. These objects are often associated with outer space and are part of the celestial realm. The word "celestial" is used to describe anything that is related to or originates from the sky or outer space.
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3.
Celestial objects move about _____ degrees per hour.
Explanation Celestial objects move about 15 degrees per hour. This means that in the span of one hour, celestial objects such as stars or planets will appear to have shifted their position in the sky by 15 degrees. This movement is due to the rotation of the Earth on its axis, causing the apparent movement of celestial objects as seen from our perspective on Earth. The term "fifteen" is simply another way of expressing the numerical value of 15 degrees.
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4.
In Ptolemy's 'geocentric' view of the universe the __________________ is at the center of the universe.
Explanation Ptolemy's geocentric view of the universe states that the Earth is at the center of the universe. This means that according to Ptolemy's model, all celestial bodies including the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars revolve around the Earth. This view was widely accepted for many centuries until the heliocentric model proposed by Copernicus challenged it.
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5.
Ptolemy's geocentric view of the universe said that all bodies move in elliptical orbits around the sun.
A.
True
B.
False
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation Ptolemy's geocentric view of the universe actually stated that all bodies, including the sun, moved in circular orbits around the Earth. This model was widely accepted for many centuries until it was eventually replaced by the heliocentric model proposed by Copernicus. Therefore, the statement that all bodies move in elliptical orbits around the sun is not consistent with Ptolemy's geocentric view.
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6.
_______________________ is the scientist that came just after Ptolemy.
Correct Answer Copernicus Nicolaus Copernicus
Explanation Copernicus is the scientist who came just after Ptolemy. Nicolaus Copernicus is the full name of this scientist.
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7.
Copernicus came up with the geo-heliocentric theory of the universe.
A.
True
B.
False
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation The statement is false because Copernicus actually proposed the heliocentric theory of the universe, not the geo-heliocentric theory. According to Copernicus, the sun is at the center of the solar system, and the planets, including Earth, revolve around it. This theory challenged the prevailing belief at the time that Earth was at the center of the universe.
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8.
In Copernicus's heliocentric theory of the universe, the ___________ is at the center of the universe with all bodies revolving around it.
Correct Answer sun
Explanation Copernicus's heliocentric theory of the universe states that the sun is at the center of the universe, with all other celestial bodies revolving around it. This theory challenged the prevailing belief at the time that the Earth was the center of the universe. Copernicus's revolutionary idea laid the foundation for modern astronomy and our understanding of the solar system.
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9.
Describe some of the observations that Copernicus made with his newly improved telescope.
10.
___________________ is the scientist who came just after Copernicus.
Correct Answer kepler Johannes kepler
Explanation The scientist who came just after Copernicus is Johannes Kepler. Kepler was a German astronomer and mathematician who is best known for his laws of planetary motion. He built upon Copernicus' heliocentric model of the universe and made significant contributions to the understanding of planetary orbits. Kepler's work laid the foundation for modern astronomy and his laws are still used today to study the motion of planets and other celestial bodies.
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11.
Until Kepler, people thought that all orbits had a ________________ shape.
Correct Answer circular circle
Explanation Until Kepler, people thought that all orbits had a circular shape. This means that they believed that the path followed by celestial bodies, such as planets, around a central object, such as the Sun, was a perfect circle. However, Kepler's laws of planetary motion, formulated in the early 17th century, showed that orbits are actually elliptical in shape. This groundbreaking discovery revolutionized our understanding of celestial mechanics and paved the way for future advancements in astronomy.
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12.
Kepler finally concluded that the shape of planetary orbits is ____________________.
Correct Answer elliptical an ellipse
Explanation Kepler finally concluded that the shape of planetary orbits is elliptical, specifically an ellipse. This means that the path followed by planets around the sun is not a perfect circle, but rather an elongated shape with two focal points. Kepler's discovery of the elliptical shape of orbits was a significant breakthrough in understanding the motion of celestial bodies and laid the foundation for modern astronomy.
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13.
In 1687, Isaac Newton published 3 laws of ___________________.
Correct Answer gravitation gravity
Explanation In 1687, Isaac Newton published 3 laws of gravitation and gravity. These laws, known as Newton's laws of motion, describe the fundamental principles governing the motion of objects under the influence of gravitational forces. The laws explain how objects interact with each other through gravitational attraction and how this attraction affects their motion. Newton's laws of gravitation and gravity revolutionized our understanding of the physical world and laid the foundation for classical mechanics.
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14.
__________________ is the person who actually proved how Kepler's laws work using math and physics.
Correct Answer Newton Isaac Newton
Explanation Isaac Newton is the person who actually proved how Kepler's laws work using math and physics. Newton's groundbreaking work in his book "Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy" demonstrated how his laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation could explain and mathematically describe Kepler's laws of planetary motion. Newton's laws provided a comprehensive understanding of the mechanics of celestial bodies and laid the foundation for modern physics.
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15.
In an elliptical orbit, the point CLOSEST to the focus (the sun in our solar system's case) is called the _________________.
Correct Answer perihelion
Explanation In an elliptical orbit, the point closest to the focus (the sun in our solar system's case) is called the perihelion. The perihelion is the point in the orbit where the object is closest to the sun. This term is commonly used in astronomy to describe the position of planets and other celestial bodies in relation to the sun.
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16.
In an elliptical orbit, the point FARTHEST from the focus is called the _____________________.
Correct Answer aphelion
Explanation In an elliptical orbit, the point farthest from the focus is called the aphelion. This term is used to describe the position in the orbit where the distance between the orbiting object and the focus is at its maximum. It is the opposite of perihelion, which is the point in the orbit where the distance between the object and the focus is at its minimum. The term "aphelion" is commonly used in astronomy to describe the position of planets, comets, and other celestial bodies in their orbits around the Sun.
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17.
The time it takes for a body to make 1 full orbit around the sun is called one ___________________.
Correct Answer revolution
Explanation The time it takes for a body to make one full orbit around the sun is called one revolution.
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