Birth of Modern Astronomy

Front

What does Kepler's second law state about a planet's orbit?

Back

A planet will speed up or slow down in its orbit.

Front

Who provided direct evidence for the Copernican model of the Universe using a telescope?

Back

Galileo.

Front

Who was the first to use a telescope to observe the heavens?

Back

Galileo.

Front

What does Kepler's third law predict?

Back

The orbital time period of an object orbiting another object.

Front

What shape do all planets orbit the Sun in according to Kepler's first law?

Back

In an ellipse (stretched out circle).

Front

What is the geocentric model?

Back

An astronomical model that places Earth at the center of the Universe.

Front

What is the Copernican model?

Back

An astronomical model that places the Sun at the center of the Universe.

Front

What is an ellipse?

Back

An elongated circle; the shape of planetary orbits as described by Kepler's first law.

Front

What is the significance of Galileo's telescope observations?

Back

They provided evidence that supported the heliocentric model of the solar system.

Front

What are Kepler's laws of planetary motion?

Back

Three laws that describe the motion of planets around the Sun: 1) Orbits are ellipses, 2) Equal areas in equal times, 3) The square of the orbital period is proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis.