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I know that we can model a Geocentric "solar system" mathematically, with the Sun orbiting the earth and the other planets somehow spiralling round the orbiting Sun.
I imagine though that physics tells us that that cannot be the case, that the model is "innacurate" or impossible as things stand. For if the Sun (and planets) were to orbit the Earth daily, the Earth would have to have one hell of a (mass related) gravitational pull to hold such a massive and fast moving body as the Sun in orbit.
What would that (Earthly) mass be if it could hold the Sun in orbit? What calculations would I (or you) have to use to determine that? (Perhaps skip the last question, as I've seen Wikipedia's Analysis of Orbital Motion and given up right away).
How dense would it be, if it's size remained the same, and what would it be compared to, a Black Hole, collapsed dead star or Red Dwarf or something?
Everything on the Earth's surface would collapse, right, underthe G-force?
I even bet that the Geocentric model couldn't possibly be true, even if we could tamper with the masses of the Sun and planets, because with changed relative masses, the current dynamics would break down entirely. Right?
I thank anyone who can help educate me, so that I can educate others
2007-12-04
01:48:24
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2 answers
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asked by
bulletproofmoth
2
in
Astronomy & Space