How did the early sientist solve the problem of the planets moving backwards?

Answer 1

Hi. The smart ones figured out the notion of 'parallax' and realized that the outer planets must revolve around the Sun.

Answer 2

Many scientist use models and thought expirements, and then use mathematics to prove their theories.

Planets do not move backwards. It would simply take too much force to change the direction of a planet, so there had to be another explanation.

Once you see that you can cause something to appear to move backward in the real world, you can extrapolate that to planetary bodies.

So, how do you show this phenomenon? Have you ever sat in a car, looked out the window and believed your car to be moving backwards, then step on the brake to find you weren't moving, but a nearby car was? Have you ever looked at the clouds behind a building as you were walking and the clouds seem to be moving behind the building? These are examples of how the motion of one body can appear to affect the motion of another body. As soon as it was discovered that planets were in orbit around the sun, astrologers and astronomers took a look at retrograde motion. (Astrologers have contributed greatly to astronomy, and the mathematics behind astrology is quite complex)
Retrograde was easy to explain once orbits were understood.

Answer 3

Early Greek astronomers supposed that planetary retrograde motion was due to "epicycles", which can be imagined to be small circular orbits about an imaginary center moving on the main circular orbit. Sometimes, complicated combinations of epicycles had to be devised to account for the exact observed path the planets would take.

Answer 4

They followed the example of the Planet of the Apes.

Answer 5

It is not simple question to answer....but my understanding is totally different from those answer to your question.

It was not done by the scientist.....it is exist, All our scientist are found any thing new???...YES...they explain the exist information, it in their own way of presentation and those may understand the english or other language...they begin to believe.

I may able to explain in my own way of research to everyone...then who going to believe me, unless i am recongized as Nobel prize winner or King of the universe....

Most of the scientist are mathmaticians...they generate equation which every one can understand. that is why the early scientist are able to solve the problem....

Scientist are genies...we cann't compete with them.....scientist are not made....they are born. In future i also one of them...

young scientist.