answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

The mechanical model (gears and the like) of Copernicus is much easier to make than Ptolemy's.

User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

AnswerBot

6mo ago

Copernicus' model is simpler than Ptolemy's because it places the sun at the center of the solar system, with planets orbiting around it in nearly circular paths. This heliocentric model eliminates the need for complex epicycles, which Ptolemy used in his geocentric model to explain the retrograde motion of planets. Copernicus's model also provides a more elegant explanation for the observed movements of celestial bodies.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Why is Copernicus' model much simpler than Ptolemy's?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

Copernicus' model of the solar system gave much better predictions than the model of Ptolemy?

Yes, Copernicus' heliocentric model of the solar system, with the Sun at the center, provided more accurate predictions of planetary movements compared to Ptolemy's geocentric model, which had the Earth at the center. This was due to the simplicity and elegance of Copernicus' model, leading to a better understanding of the true nature of the solar system.


How was Copernicus' model of the universe different from Ptolemy's model?

The main difference was that Ptolemy's model was geocentric (Earth-centred) and Copernicus's was heliocentric (Sun-centred). Ptolemy's model came from ancient times while Copernicus's was much later (1543). Both models represented the planets' orbits by using combinations of circles and epicycles to explain the way the planets move among the stars. Copernicus found that the orbits of the inner planets could be explained more simply. That is to say that the epicycles used for all the orbits were smaller, and for the inner planets a lot smaller. Both models represented the planets' positions with reasonable accuracy given the crude observational methods used in those days. Until gravity and the laws of dynamics were discovered about 150 years after the publication of Copernicus's system, there was no way of deciding which model was the 'right' one.


What view of the solar system was first proposed by Nicholas Copernicus?

Copernicus proposed a new model of the planets as they move among the stars, and it was published in 1543, the year he died. The model was similar to Ptolemy's model that had been used for 1400 years, in that it used circles and epicycles. The difference was that the new theory had the Sun at the centre instead of the Earth. Copernicus said it was a simpler model, and it was in a sense. It had just as many or even more epicycles to allow for the eccentricity of the planets' orbits and their inclination to the ecliptic (as now understood), but the epicycles were reduced in size, in some cases by a lot. In the Ptolemaic model each planet had its major epicycle approximately equal to the size of the Earth's orbit (as we know know), while Copernicus's model used much smaller epicycles. However both models were rejected when Kepler came up with his idea that the orbits are ellipses, and, later, Newton's discoveries showed why they have to be ellipses. So the earlier models were consigned to the history books - except for the idea of having the Sun at the centre.


What did Copernicus believe about the heliocentric model?

Copernicus proposed a heliocentric model of the solar system where the Earth and other planets orbit around the Sun. This was a departure from the prevailing geocentric model, which placed Earth at the center of the universe. Copernicus' theory laid the foundation for modern astronomy and our understanding of the solar system.


What was the the model solar system that was thought to be correct before Copernicus?

It was Ptolemy's model. Ptolemy's model came from ancient times while Copernicus's was much later (1543).Both models represented the planets' orbits by using combinations of circles and epicycles to explain the way the planets move among the stars.Copernicus found that the orbits of the inner planets could be explained more simply. That is to say that the epicycles used for all the orbits were smaller, and for the inner planets a lot smaller.Both models represented the planets' positions with reasonable accuracy given the crude observational methods used in those days.Until gravity and the laws of dynamics were discovered about 150 years after the publication of Copernicus's system, there was no way of deciding which model was the 'right' one.

Related questions

Copernicus' model of the solar system gave much better predictions than the model of Ptolemy?

Yes, Copernicus' heliocentric model of the solar system, with the Sun at the center, provided more accurate predictions of planetary movements compared to Ptolemy's geocentric model, which had the Earth at the center. This was due to the simplicity and elegance of Copernicus' model, leading to a better understanding of the true nature of the solar system.


How did the scientists develop the model of the atom you use today?

today the most common model is the bohr model. scientist decided to use this because it was a much simpler model and much easier to make. they reaized that by using wire for the different paths of the protons, they would be able to create more models in a less amount of time. thus, the bohr model was created and science projects got much simpler.


How was Copernicus' model of the universe different from Ptolemy's model?

The main difference was that Ptolemy's model was geocentric (Earth-centred) and Copernicus's was heliocentric (Sun-centred). Ptolemy's model came from ancient times while Copernicus's was much later (1543). Both models represented the planets' orbits by using combinations of circles and epicycles to explain the way the planets move among the stars. Copernicus found that the orbits of the inner planets could be explained more simply. That is to say that the epicycles used for all the orbits were smaller, and for the inner planets a lot smaller. Both models represented the planets' positions with reasonable accuracy given the crude observational methods used in those days. Until gravity and the laws of dynamics were discovered about 150 years after the publication of Copernicus's system, there was no way of deciding which model was the 'right' one.


What view of the solar system was first proposed by Nicholas Copernicus?

Copernicus proposed a new model of the planets as they move among the stars, and it was published in 1543, the year he died. The model was similar to Ptolemy's model that had been used for 1400 years, in that it used circles and epicycles. The difference was that the new theory had the Sun at the centre instead of the Earth. Copernicus said it was a simpler model, and it was in a sense. It had just as many or even more epicycles to allow for the eccentricity of the planets' orbits and their inclination to the ecliptic (as now understood), but the epicycles were reduced in size, in some cases by a lot. In the Ptolemaic model each planet had its major epicycle approximately equal to the size of the Earth's orbit (as we know know), while Copernicus's model used much smaller epicycles. However both models were rejected when Kepler came up with his idea that the orbits are ellipses, and, later, Newton's discoveries showed why they have to be ellipses. So the earlier models were consigned to the history books - except for the idea of having the Sun at the centre.


What was the first scientist to dispute Ptolemy's model of a genetic or earth centered?

Copernicus devised an alternative model to explain the planets' movements among the stars. It was similar to Ptolemy's model in that it was composed of circles and epicycles, but it differed in placing the Sun at the centre instead of the Earth. So Ptolemy's model was geocentric while Copernicus's was heliocentric. Copernicus had no way of testing the validity of his model except that it was geometrically simpler, especially for the inner planets Mercury, Venus and Mars which needed much smaller epicycles in Copernicus's model. We now know that the large epicyces in the Ptolemaic model were necessary to compensate for the Earth's movement round the Sun. Galieo's discoveries with the telescope raised more serious doubts about Ptolemy's model when he found that Venus showed phases that could not be explained by the Ptolemaic model. The gibbous phase is not explained by Ptolemy's model because it does not allow Venus to go behind the Sun as seen from Earth. Tycho produced a model that was geocentric but also explained the phases of Venus. Finally all three models were rejected in favour of Kepler's model, which has the Sun at the centre and the planets in elliptical orbits. This is the model used today, with very minor modifications due to the General Theory of Relativity.


Did Copernicus had a wife?

no because his work was to much for him


What was the controversial idea of Nicklaus Copernicus?

Copernicus devised a new model of the planets' movements among the stars. To do this he made modifications to the ancient Ptolemaic system. Copernicus considered that the ancient model was geometrically complicated and that it could be simplified very much by placing the Sun at the centre, instead of the Earth. This was controversial because the Ptolemaic model had been around for well over 1000 years and had been incorporated into the scriptures, and it was believed the Earth is at the centre. Not only was it believed but it was also religious dogma. In the end Kepler came up with a new model of elliptical orbits that was shown to be right many years later after the law of gravity and the laws of motion had been discovered. Kepler's theory is the one that is still in use today. Kepler's theory retained Copernicus's idea of placing the Sun at the centre, so Copernicus was proved right in the end, although during Copernicus's lifetime he had no way of knowing it.


Which language is source program written?

The Java language derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model and fewer low-level facilities


What did Copernicus believe about the heliocentric model?

Copernicus proposed a heliocentric model of the solar system where the Earth and other planets orbit around the Sun. This was a departure from the prevailing geocentric model, which placed Earth at the center of the universe. Copernicus' theory laid the foundation for modern astronomy and our understanding of the solar system.


Who developed the theory that the earth revolves around the sun.?

Copernicus produced the first full model of the planets with the Sun at the centre. It resembled the old geocentric Ptolemaic system with orbits based on circle and epicycles, but Copernicus's model was simpler in the fact that the epicycles for the inner planets were much reduced in size. His model was published in 1543. Tycho Brahe produced a geocentric model that had Mercury and Venus orbiting the Sun, in the late 1500s. Johannes Kepler worked on a new model based on Tycho's observations, and he hit on the idea that the planets' orbits are elliptical with the Sun at (or near) the centre. His work was published in 1609. All these models were purely phenomenological, they only attempted to describe the observed motion of the planets as accurately as possible. But in the late 1600s Isaac Newton made theoretical discoveries that led him to explain the planets' elliptical orbits in terms of the laws of motion and the law of gravity. Newon's theory was published in 1687. Since then the Kepler model with Newton's theoretical backup has become the accepted model.


What was the the model solar system that was thought to be correct before Copernicus?

It was Ptolemy's model. Ptolemy's model came from ancient times while Copernicus's was much later (1543).Both models represented the planets' orbits by using combinations of circles and epicycles to explain the way the planets move among the stars.Copernicus found that the orbits of the inner planets could be explained more simply. That is to say that the epicycles used for all the orbits were smaller, and for the inner planets a lot smaller.Both models represented the planets' positions with reasonable accuracy given the crude observational methods used in those days.Until gravity and the laws of dynamics were discovered about 150 years after the publication of Copernicus's system, there was no way of deciding which model was the 'right' one.


How it makes life more simpler?

Technology make our lifes simpler because we don`t have to that much.