The models of the universe

By Philo2000
  • 322 BCE

    Aristotle

    Aristotle
    Aristotle believed that the earth was the centre of the universe, which in today's scientific society is deemed incorrect, but at his time it was logically explained by observing the universe from his perspective, and lasted for two thousand years. he was one of the first to reason that the earth was round rather than flat. he also believed in a geocentric model. His model consisted of 55 concentric circles containing all the stars and planets orbiting around the earth
  • 240 BCE

    Aristarchus

    Aristarchus
    several years later, the greek man Aristarchus put forward the view that the universe was heliocentric, meaning that the earth was not the centre, but the sun was. He also put forward the notion that the sun was larger than the earth, and that the earth rotates on its own axis once a day
  • 140 BCE

    Ptolemy

    Ptolemy
    Ptolemy took Aristotle's geocentric model and built upon it. It was also backed by the church , leading to its undisputed reign for over 1400 years. his model could also make predictions and calculations which were fairly accurate.
  • Jan 1, 1542

    Copernicus

    Copernicus
    Copernicus' model was a heliocentric model. Copernicus' attempt to resurrect the heliocentric model was evidently based on Aristarchus’ model, but was branded heretical by the church and thus slowed its acceptance.

  • Tycho Brahe

    Tycho Brahe
    Tycho Brahe was known for his precise manner in which he studied the night sky. Brahe's model of the universe was a combination of both the models, with the earth being at the centre and the planet revolving around the sun, while it revolved around the earth. this was the only proof needed to disprove the geocentric model by proving an earth that moves by observing the slight shift in stars, but as a result of the technology available at that time, this phenomenon could not be observed by Brahe.

  • Johannes Kepler

    Johannes Kepler
    By using the copernican model of the universe, as well as all the data collected by Brahe, Johannes produced an improved heliocentric model of the universe. his model stated that the planets revolved around the sun in ellipses, not circles, and with the sun located at any one of two foci in those ellipse. Kepler also created formulas that could help him calculate the relative distances of planets

  • Galileo

    Galileo
    Galileo was the first known person to point a telescope at the night sky. with this telescope he managed to discover Jupiter's moons, and as they orbiting Jupiter, and not earth, this was proof that the ptolemaic geocentric model was incorrect. Galileo was continue warned by the church to cease his study and support of the heliocentric model

  • Sir Isaac Newton

    Sir Isaac Newton
    Sir Isaac Newton is widely considered to be the father of physics. He established many formulae and theory's in the field of physics. this built the foundation of what is the continuation of the development of the current model of the universe, with a heliocentric solar system and an expanding universe. Newton also developed the law of universal gravitation which gave the understanding if the gravitational attraction between two masses.