The Copernican world system. The essence of the heliocentric system of the world. Ptolemaic

In Europe, during the early Middle Ages, a world system based on biblical texts dominated. After a while it was replaced by dogmatic Aristotelianism and the geocentric system proposed by Ptolemy . The foundations of the latter questioned the data of astronomical observations, which gradually accumulated during the course of history. The complexity, complexity and imperfection of the Ptolemaic system became more and more obvious. There have been many attempts to increase its accuracy, but they only complicated it. Back in the 13th century, Alfonso X, the Castilian king, said that if he had had the opportunity to give God advice when creating the world, he would advise to make it easier.

The heliocentric system of the world was proposed by Copernicus. It became a veritable revolution in astronomy. After reading this article, you will get acquainted with Copernicus and his contribution to science. But first we will talk about what Ptolemy offered before him.

Ptolemaic system of the world and its shortcomings

The system created by the predecessor of Copernicus did not allow obtaining accurate predictions. In addition, she suffered from unsystematic, lack of integrity, internal unity. The world system of Ptolemy (his portrait is presented above) assumed the study of each planet in isolation, apart from others. Each celestial body, as the scientist claimed, had its own laws of motion and an epicyclic system. The motion of planets in geocentric systems was described with the help of a number of independent, equitable mathematical models. Geocentric theory, strictly speaking, did not add up to the system, since the planetary system (or system of planets) was not its object. It was solely about individual movements that heavenly bodies perform.

It should be noted that with the help of geocentric theory it was possible to calculate only the approximate location of certain celestial bodies. But to determine their location in space or true distance was not possible. These problems Ptolemy considered and altogether insoluble. A new system of the world, heliocentric, has emerged through the establishment of a search for systemic and internal unity.

Need to reform the calendar

It should be noted that heliocentric theory also arose in connection with the need to reform the Julian calendar. The two main points in it (the full moon and the equinox) have lost touch with the really astronomical events that took place. In the 4th century AD E. Date of the vernal equinox according to the calendar fell on March 21. In 325, the Council of Nicaea established this number. It was used as an important starting point for calculating the date of Easter, the main Christian holiday. By the 16th century, the date of the vernal equinox (March 21) was 10 days behind the actual date.

Julian calendar since the 8th century unsuccessfully tried to improve. At the Lateran Cathedral in Rome (1512-17), the severity of the calendar problem was noted. A number of well-known astronomers were asked to solve it. Among them was Nikolai Copernicus. However, he refused, because he considered the theory of the motion of the Moon and the Sun insufficiently accurate and developed. And it was they who at that time were at the heart of the calendar. Nevertheless, the proposal, which was received by N. Copernicus, became for him one of the motives for work on improving the geocentric theory. As a result of this work, a new system of peace has emerged.

Doubts of Copernicus in the truth of the theory of Ptolemy

Nicholas was destined to commit one of the greatest revolutions in the history of astronomy, followed by a revolution in natural science. Copernicus, having become acquainted with the Ptolemy system as early as the end of the 15th century, appreciated his mathematical genius. However, soon the scientist began to doubt the truth of this theory. Doubts gave way to the conviction that there are deep contradictions in geocentrism.

Copernicus - representative of the Renaissance

Nikolai Copernicus was the first scientist to look at the thousand-year experience of the development of science through the eyes of a man of a new era. It's about the Renaissance. As its true representative, Copernicus proved himself a confident, courageous innovator. His predecessors did not have the courage to abandon the geocentric principle. They were engaged in improving some or other small details of the theory. The Copernican world system implied a break with the millennial astronomical tradition. The thinker sought in nature harmony and simplicity, the key to understanding the unity of many phenomena that seem to be scattered. The system of the world of Nicolaus Copernicus was the result of the searches of its creator.

The main works of Copernicus

The basic principles of heliocentric astronomy Copernicus expounded between 1505 and 1507 in the "Minor Commentary." By 1530, he had completed the theoretical processing of the astronomical data he had received. However, it was not until 1543 that one of the most important creations of human thought appeared in the world - the work "On the Spin of the Celestial Spheres." This paper presents a mathematical theory that explains the complex visible movements of the moon, the sun, five planets, and also the sphere of stars. In the appendix to the work there is a catalog of stars. The work itself is provided with mathematical tables.

The essence of the heliocentric system of the world

Copernicus placed the Sun in the center of the world. He pointed out that the planets are moving around him. Among them was the Earth, first defined as a "mobile star". The sphere of stars, as Copernicus believed, is separated from the planetary system by a huge distance. The conclusion of the thinker about the great remoteness of this sphere is explained by the heliocentric principle. The fact is that only in this way Copernicus could reconcile his theory with the apparent lack of bias in the stars. These are the displacements that should appear due to the motion of the observer along with the planet Earth.

The accuracy and simplicity of the new system

The system proposed by Nicholas Copernicus was more accurate and simpler than the Ptolemy system. It immediately gained wide practical application. On the basis of this system, the "Prussian tables" were compiled, the length of the tropical year was calculated more accurately. In 1582, the long-awaited reform of the calendar was held - a new style, the Gregorian style, appeared.

The less complexity of the new theory, as well as the greater accuracy of calculating planetary positions based on heliocentric tables obtained at first, are by no means the main advantages of the Copernican system. Moreover, in the calculations, his theory proved to be only slightly more simple than the Ptolemaic theory. As for the accuracy of calculating the positions of the planets, it practically did not differ from it, if it was necessary to calculate the changes observed in a long period of time.

At first, the "Prussian Tables" gave somewhat greater accuracy. This was explained, however, not merely by the introduction of the heliocentric principle. The fact is that Copernicus used a more sophisticated mathematical apparatus for his calculations. However, the "Prussian Tables" soon also disagreed with the data obtained during the observations.

The enthusiastic attitude to the theory proposed by Copernicus was gradually replaced by disappointment in it for those who expected to receive immediate practical effect. More than half a century, from the time of the Copernican system to the discovery of the phases of Venus in 1616, there was no direct evidence that the planets are moving around the Sun. Thus, the truth of the new system was not confirmed by observations. What was the true strength and attractiveness of Copernicus' theory, which caused a real revolution in natural science?

Copernicus and Aristotelian cosmology

As you know, any new appears on the basis of the old. In this respect, Copernicus was no exception. He who created the heliocentric system of the world, shared many of the provisions of Aristotle's cosmology. For example, the universe seemed to him a closed space, which is limited to a special sphere of motionless stars. From the Aristotelian dogma, Copernicus did not retreat, but in accordance with it the movements of heavenly bodies are always circular and uniform. Copernicus in this respect was even more conservative than Ptolemy. The latter introduced the concept of the equant and did not deny the possibility of the existence of an uneven motion of celestial bodies.

The main merit of Copernicus

The merit of Copernicus was that, unlike his predecessors, he tried to create a planetary theory that differed in logical harmony and simplicity. The scientist saw in the absence of systematic, harmony and simplicity the fundamental inconsistency of the system proposed by Ptolemy. It lacked a single core principle, which would explain the patterns of motion of various celestial bodies.

The revolutionary significance of the principle proposed by Copernicus was that Nicholas presented a unified system for the motion of all planets, explained many effects previously unknown to scientists. For example, through the idea of the daily and yearly movements of our planet, he explained the main features of such intricate motions of celestial bodies, as loops, standing, backward movements. The Copernicus system made it possible to understand why the daily movement of the sky occurs. From now on, the loop-like motions of the planets were explained by the fact that the Earth rotates around the Sun with a cycle of one year.

Departure from the scholastic tradition

The theory of Copernicus determined the emergence of a new method of cognition of nature, based on a scientific approach. According to the scholastic tradition that his predecessors adhered to, in order to know the essence of this or that object, one does not need to study in detail its external side. Scholastics believed that the essence can be understood directly by the mind. Unlike them, Copernicus showed that it can be understood only after a careful study of the phenomenon under consideration, its contradictions and regularities. Heliocentric system of the world N. Copernicus has become a powerful impetus in the development of science.

How did the church react to the new teaching?

At first, the Catholic Church did not attach much importance to the doctrine proposed by Copernicus. But when it became clear that it undermined the foundations of religion, its supporters began to be persecuted. For spreading the teachings of Copernicus in 1600, Giordano Bruno, an Italian thinker, was burned at the stake. The scientific dispute between supporters of Ptolemy and Copernicus turned into a struggle between reactionary and progressive forces. In the end, the latter won.