how can we prove that the earth is actually like any other planet and not the centre of the universe, and the whole universe is actually moving around it?
2006-10-20 15:10:07 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Parallax. When we revolve around the sun there is a slight shift in the position of the sun in relation to the stars in the background. hold your thumb in front of your eyes and look at it with one eye at one time. What you see is parallax. This one way to prove we are revolving around the sun.
2006-10-20 15:45:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because we couldn't have landed a probe on one of Saturn's moons using Newton's laws. Those laws take into account the rotation of the Earth, the Earth's position in space, and where Saturn and it's moon Titan are going to be in a couple of years, not to mention the several slingshot acceleration assists from a planet or two to get there. The whole entire space program, including the Hubble telescope and all that satellite technology has proven it every time you make a call or watch satellite TV. How much more proof do you need?
2006-10-20 23:01:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
By observing the stars at night.
You can see that they move around something else, the sun for the planets in our solar system (there are mathematical models that prove that).
If earth was the centre of the universe we would be able to see planet's orbits as cyrcles.
2006-10-21 08:31:56 · answer #3 · answered by Ioanna 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The way you can prove that hot means cold and cold means hot.Read your question again please.if the earth is like any other planet and not the center of the universe as it isreally not how can the universe move around it ?How can anything move around some thing that is not the center?The only way to prove the existence of contradiction in one and the same thing or sitution is to say that black is white and white is black.if this is proved what you want to prove is very easily proved!
2006-10-21 04:53:12 · answer #4 · answered by diamond r 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. Let's rephrase the question. Suppose the Earth was a little more like Venus and had a perpetual cloud cover. Then how would you prove it. The Michelson-Morley experiment would tend to DIS-prove any Earth motion. Observing leads to theory, theory to more observation, more observation to better understanding (or not). In the cloud covered Earth proving this may not occur to anyone. Tides would be hard to explain, etc. My answer? Without the sky as a backdrop I don't know.
2006-10-20 22:58:01 · answer #5 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, I think one of the important things to take into consideration is that the planet has a flawed olliptical orbit around the sun. By observing our movement around the sun in comparison to other planets it is easy to determin that the object left in stability is that of the sun. It may be possible that the sun is moving and we are simply following it around, however your question is a pretty mute point. If all other objects had a common trajectory with our planet, then your question would be much more practical.
2006-10-20 22:38:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anmont 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can see the nutation of the star background as the Earth moves in its orbit. You can apply Occam's Razor and accept the simplest answer, which is that the Earth is actually moving.
Or, you can assume that the universe is moving around the Earth and that the stars are all moving at lightspeed trying to maintain their yearly orbit of the Earth.
2006-10-20 22:34:24 · answer #7 · answered by arbiter007 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
try this one on.
The earth definitely revolves around the sun. How does one know? We simply revolve around the biggest mass around us. The Sun is the biggest star in our solar system, that's why our planets revolve around it. If it wasn't around, maybe we would go towards Jupiter. Just think, if we were the center, and the sun was moving around us, then the sun would have to moving at an incredible speed, and yet somehow stay in the earth's orbit.
That's just not possible.
2006-10-20 22:24:39 · answer #8 · answered by nick 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you want to use the Earth as your reference point, then everything does orbit around it - kinda. Look up Ptolemy's epicircles for the problems you run into. Putting the Sun at the center makes much more sense in terms of physical laws - Keplers' Law, Newtons' Law of gravitation, etc.
2006-10-20 22:14:28 · answer #9 · answered by eri 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It orbits around the sun every 364 3/4 days. You can prove this yourself by standing outside, jumping as high as you can, and if you do this just right .. . you will spin into Pluto .. before you hit the Sun. Pluto always has been, and will be, a planet in my heart. Good Luck! :)
2006-10-20 22:12:53 · answer #10 · answered by tysavage2001 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋