Posted: March 30th, 2016

What do astronomers mean by a geocentric solar system?

What do astronomers mean by a geocentric solar system? Compare and contrast the geocentric and the heliocentric models of the solar system. What were the social implications facing Copernicus and his contemporaries in proposing a heliocentric model?
The axis of the Earth is tilted at 23.5 degrees with respect to the ecliptic plane. Describe the ecliptic plane and explain what impact, if any, the tilt of the Earth axis has on its Seasons.
What do astronomers mean by the apparent retrograde motion of the planets? Compare the concepts of epicycles and how astronomers understand retrograde motion today. Describe how Occam s Razor was used in this example.
In modern everyday language, the word theory is used to describe questionable ideas. It is often said that when an idea is disagreeable, the retort is well that is just a theory . In reality, this is the wrong use of the term theory . In science, what is the correct use of the word theory and what is the difference between a theory and a hypothesis?