Question

Which of the following statements about Copernicus' heliocentric model of the Solar System are accurate?

Answer 1

Answer:

(i) It was the first such model was supported by scientific evidence: FALSE

(ii) It was not published until Copernicus was close to death: TRUE

(iii) It was the first time a heliocentric model had ever been suggested: FALSE

(iv) It was not controversial, and was readily accepted: FALSE

(v) It stated that the Sun revolved around the Earth: FALSE

(vi) It stated that the Earth revolved around the Sun: TRUE

Explanation:

We proceed to demonstrate the validity of each option from statement:

(i) It was the first such model was supported by scientific evidence: FALSE

The geocentric model was based mostly on interpretation of two astronomical findings: (a) The displacement of the stars with respect to Earth due to stellar parallax, (b) The apparent consistency of brightness of the planet Venus seen from Earth.

(ii) It was not published until Copernicus was close to death: TRUE

Copernicus published his heliocentric theory, contained in the book De revolutionibus orbium coelestium, months before his death, in 1543.

(iii) It was the first time a heliocentric model had ever been suggested: FALSE

Greek mathematician and astronomer Aristarchus of Samos was the first person who proposed the heliocentric model in the 4th Century.

(iv) It was not controversial, and was readily accepted: FALSE

The Roman Catholic Church defended geocentric model proposed by Claudius Ptolemy and Tycho Brahe and rejected the model proposed by Copernicus, whose publication was included in the Index Librorum Prohibitorum in 1616.

(v) It stated that the Sun revolved around the Earth: FALSE

This is the main idea of the geocentric model.

(vi) It stated that the Earth revolved around the Sun: TRUE

This is the main idea of the heliocentric model.