Difference between revisions of "Geocentric theory"

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(rewrite because of many false statements)
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{{stub}}The geocentric theory stated that the earth ("geo-") is the center of the universe.
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The geocentric theory is a system for describing the universe with Earth-centered coordinates. It was extremely popular from ancient times until about 1600, as it had better agreement with observation than any alternative. Ptolemy's model was particularly effective at cosmological predictions.
  
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Originally proposed by [[Ptolemy]], it was abandoned when the observations of [[Copernicus]] lead [[Galileo]] to propose the [[Heliocentric]] theory, i.e. that the [[Universe]] revolves around the [[Sun]]. This [[Scientific method|theory]] has itself now been abandoned as newer observations have lead [[Astronomy|Astronomers]] to see the Sun as just one [[star]] among billions and abandon the notion of the Universe having any center.
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By the 1800s, the spectacular successes of Newtonian theory and Maxwell's equations for electromagnetism had convinced everyone that the Sun is a preferred frame of reference, and that the laws of physics must be applied in that frame. The geocentric theory was considered to be profoundly mistaken, and the heliocentric theory correct.
  
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The Geocentric view was not abandoned easily as some [[Christianity|Christians]] interpreted Biblical passages <ref>Chronicles 16:30 , Psalm 104:5, Ecclesiastes 1:5</ref> as supporting the theory and saw any challange to it as [[heresy|heretical]]. [[Giordano Bruno]] for example had been burned to death in part for supporting Heliocentricism. Galileo himself was at first imprisoned and later held under house arrest.
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Since the advent of relativity theory in the early 1900s, the laws of physics have been written in covariant equations, meaning that they are equally valid in any frame. Heliocentric and geocentric theories are both used today, depending on which allows more convenient calculations.
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In 1992 the [[Roman Catholic Church]] acknowledged Galileo's role in overturning the Geocentric theory. <ref>[http://www.its.caltech.edu/~nmcenter/sci-cp/sci-9211.html]</ref>
 
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==References==
 
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<references/>
 

Revision as of 23:32, March 15, 2007

The geocentric theory is a system for describing the universe with Earth-centered coordinates. It was extremely popular from ancient times until about 1600, as it had better agreement with observation than any alternative. Ptolemy's model was particularly effective at cosmological predictions.

By the 1800s, the spectacular successes of Newtonian theory and Maxwell's equations for electromagnetism had convinced everyone that the Sun is a preferred frame of reference, and that the laws of physics must be applied in that frame. The geocentric theory was considered to be profoundly mistaken, and the heliocentric theory correct.

Since the advent of relativity theory in the early 1900s, the laws of physics have been written in covariant equations, meaning that they are equally valid in any frame. Heliocentric and geocentric theories are both used today, depending on which allows more convenient calculations.

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