PART II: ESSAY: Answer the question on this sheet front and (if needed) back only

Name: _________________________________       Section Number: ______

The dominant model of our solar system for nearly 2000 years was that developed by the Greeks (in particular, Aristotle and Ptolemy). In particular, this model featured three key assumptions about the way that Nature works; these assumptions were built in and not questioned. Later on, mostly after 1500, this model crumbled because of the work of a few important scientists, resulting in our modern picture of the solar system.

In a brief essay describe these three key aspects of the Greek system, and the observations that they tried to explain. Next discuss the step-by-step refutation of them as the modern model of the solar system developed between 1540 and 1670. In your essay, you should mention the work of Aristotle, Ptolemy, Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, and Newton (at least).