The Ptolemaic Era
Earth at the center of the universe
What is the Ptolemaic (geocentric) model?
The major shift Copernicus made in astronomy
What is placing the Sun at the center (heliocentric model)?
The scientist who inherited Tycho Brahe’s data
Who is Johannes Kepler?
The formula Newton’s discovered was called?
Law of Universal Gravitation
The astronomer who made the most accurate naked-eye measurements
Who is Tycho Brahe?
The scientist who proposed the Earth-centered system
Who is Claudius Ptolemy?
The meaning of “heliocentric”
What is Sun-centered?
Kepler’s First Law states planetary orbits are shaped like this
What are ellipses?
What happens to gravitational pull when distance increases
It decreases quickly (inverse-square law).
The scientist who described elliptical motion mathematically
Who is Johannes Kepler?
The shape of orbits in the Ptolemaic system
What are perfect circles?
One reason the Church opposed Copernicus’ theory
It contradicted traditional interpretation of Scripture and challenged long-held beliefs.
Kepler’s Second Law says planets move faster when they are where?
Closer to the Sun.
What keeps the Moon from flying into space
Earth’s gravity and its forward motion in balance.
The tool that revolutionized astronomy in Galileo’s time
What is the telescope?
The final, outermost region representing heaven
What is the Empyrean?
Evidence later confirming Copernicus’ idea
What are the phases of Venus, observed by Galileo?
Why Galileo’s discoveries supported heliocentrism
They proved not everything orbits Earth.
Newton unified motion on Earth and in space through this idea
What is universal gravitation?
The law explaining that gravity acts everywhere in the universe
What is Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation?
Why people found the geocentric model comforting
Because it placed humanity at the center of God’s creation and reflected divine order.
The effect of Copernicus’ model on science
It sparked the Scientific Revolution and changed how we view our place in the universe.
Galileo discovered these moons orbiting Jupiter
What are the four Galilean moons?
Why Newton said he stood “on the shoulders of giants”
He built on the work of earlier scientists like Kepler and Galileo.
How these discoveries reflect divine order
They reveal a universe designed with mathematical beauty and purpose.