What were the similarities between Ptolemy's model and Copernicus' model?

Answer 1

Both Copernicus heliocentric and the Ptolemaic models agreed on the need for epicycles. These were miniature orbits that the celestial bodies travelled on as well as their normal orbits.

Copernicus still invigaed the bodies orbiting in perfect circles and had to put these in to explain some of the movements of the planets. This may have contributed to his ideas being largely dismissed as it was just as complicated as the already established model. It was not until Kepler proposed elliptical orbits was this problem resolved.

Answer 2

The planetary models of Ptolemy and Copernicus both used a circular orbit with a combination of epicycles to describe the path taken by each planet. Both models used 40-50 epicycles in the complete model.

The major difference was that Ptolemy had the Earth at the centre in line with the thinking in ancient Greece, while Copernicus placed the Sun at the centre. He found that this simplified the paths followed by the planets.

After Copernicus it took at least another 150 years to sort out the theory of the planets that we use today.

Answer 3

Copernicus agreed with Ptolemy that planets have epicycles. Copernicus agreed with Hipparchus that planets have a steady orbit.

Answer 4

ptolemy theory is a geocentric theory while copernicus theory is a heliocentric theory.

Answer 5

All orbits must be perfect circles.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

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