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Chapter 3: Problem 20

Galileo observed that Jupiter has moons. From this information, you may conclude that a. Jupiter is the center of the Solar System. b. Jupiter orbits the Sun. c. Jupiter orbits Earth. d. some things do not orbit Earth.

Short Answer

Expert verified
d. some things do not orbit Earth.

Step by step solution

01

Analyze the Observation

Galileo observed moons orbiting Jupiter, which suggests that not all celestial bodies orbit Earth.
02

Evaluate Each Option

Consider each option based on the observation: a. Does the observation suggest Jupiter is the center of the Solar System?b. Does the observation suggest Jupiter orbits the Sun?c. Does the observation suggest Jupiter orbits Earth?d. Does the observation suggest some things do not orbit Earth?
03

Determine the Correct Conclusion

Based on the observation that Jupiter has moons, it suggests that those moons orbit Jupiter and not Earth. Thus, not everything orbits Earth.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Jupiter's moons
Galileo's observation of Jupiter having moons was groundbreaking.
He noticed four large moons orbiting Jupiter, which are now known as the Galilean moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.
Before this discovery, the prevailing belief was that everything in the universe orbited around the Earth.
Observing these moons orbiting Jupiter showed that not all celestial bodies revolve around Earth.
It provided concrete evidence that challenged the geocentric model of our Solar System.
These observations played a crucial role in advancing our understanding of the cosmos. It demonstrated that there are other centers of motion within our Solar System.
Heliocentric model
The heliocentric model is the idea that the Sun is at the center of the Solar System.
This model was proposed by Nicolaus Copernicus before Galileo's time.
Galileo’s observations of Jupiter’s moons gave strong support to this model.
If moons could orbit Jupiter, then it was logical to consider that Earth might orbit the Sun.
This was a pivotal shift from the geocentric model.
Galileo’s support of the heliocentric model was revolutionary and faced strong opposition from the establishment of the time.
  • Provided proof that Earth was not the center of all celestial motion.
  • Promoted the idea that planets, including Earth, revolve around the Sun.
  • Paved the way for modern astronomy and our current understanding of the universe.
Geocentric model
The geocentric model posits that Earth is the center of the universe and everything else orbits around it.
This model was prominently supported by ancient astronomers like Ptolemy.
It had been the dominant view for many centuries before Galileo’s time.
Galileo's discovery of Jupiter’s moons provided evidence against this model.
People began to realize that other celestial bodies do not revolve around the Earth.
This discovery was critical in shifting scientific consensus away from the geocentric model.
  • Was an ancient model of the cosmos.
  • Supported by observations that seemed to show celestial bodies orbiting Earth.
  • Challenged by new discoveries in the Renaissance, including Galileo’s observations.
Celestial bodies orbit
Celestial bodies are objects such as planets, moons, and stars that exist in space.
They follow paths or orbits due to gravitational forces.
Galileo’s discovery showed that moons can orbit planets other than Earth.
This was a significant discovery, as it expanded our understanding of gravitational interactions in space.
For example, the moons of Jupiter follow an orbital path around Jupiter due to its gravitational pull.
  • The shape of orbits can be circular or elliptical.
  • Gravity keeps celestial bodies in their orbits.
  • Orbits help determine the placement and movement of objects in space.
Understanding orbits is crucial for space exploration and predicting the positions of celestial bodies.
This knowledge helps astronomers understand the dynamics of our Solar System and beyond.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

\(\mathbf{T} / \mathbf{F}:\) Planets with circular orbits travel at the same speed at all points in their orbits; planets with elliptical orbits change their speeds at different points in their orbits.

What is the eccentricity of a circular orbit?

Suppose you read in a tabloid newspaper that "experts have discovered a new planet with a distance from the Sun of 2 AU and a period of 3 years." Use Kepler's third law to argue that this is impossible.

You are driving down a straight road at a speed of \(90 \mathrm{km} / \mathrm{h},\) and you see another car approaching you at a speed of \(110 \mathrm{km} / \mathrm{h}\) along the road. a. Relative to your own frame of reference, how fast is the other car approaching you? b. Relative to the other driver's frame of reference, how fast are you approaching the other driver's car?

Suppose you read in the newspaper that a new planet has been found. Its average speed in orbit is \(33 \mathrm{km} / \mathrm{s}\). When it is closest to its star it moves at \(31 \mathrm{km} / \mathrm{s}\), and when it is farthest from its star it moves at \(35 \mathrm{km} / \mathrm{s}\). This story is in error because a. the average speed is far too fast. b. Kepler's third law says the planet has to sweep out equal areas in equal times, so the speed of the planet cannot change. c. planets stay at a constant distance from their stars; they don't move closer or farther away. d. Kepler's second law says the planet must move fastest when it's closest, not when it is farthest away. e. using these numbers, the square of the orbital period will not be equal to the cube of the semimajor axis.
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