On the Accuracy of the Almagest - Research Paper Example

On the accuracy of Almagest When Claudius Ptolemy came up with Almagest, he intended it to be a straightforward way inwhich one could explain the geometric reasons of the perceptible motion of the moon five visible plants and the sun visibility from the earth’s sky. By observing the sky himself, and using earlier workers done by other astronomers such as Hipparchus, he came up with a model that claimed that the earth was stationary and in the middle of the solar system. According to the model of the solar system that he came up with, the sun moved in a spherical trajectory that was centered near the earth. Ptolemy also went ahead to claim that, in his model of the solar system, the Almagest, the sun maintained, what he termed to be, a set inclination of the earth’s center this being the equator. Through his research, Ptolemy concluded that the five visible plants from the earth moved in obits known as epicycles held together by small rings. These epicycles, he explained moved around the earth on larger unconventional sphere known as deferents. Like the sun, both the epicycles and the defrents also mentioned set inclinations close to the earth’s center. However, as much as his model, the Almagest, was considered remarkable, it has raised too many questions within the scientific realm. The Almagest has not seemed to fare well among many scientific scholars. Many scholars believe that due to his devotion to philosophical theories and doctrine Ptolemy came up with an overcomplicated, ridiculers and awkward model of the solar system that was in accurate in nature. Some of his doctrines that are heavily questioned and disagreed upon include the theory that the earth is stationary ad does not move in uniformity which other planets move around the earth center. In 1543, Nicolaus Copernicus came up with his own theory that stated that the earth and other planets moved around the suns orbit. This suppressed his theory and was largely backed by other scholars during this period. Although the study was deemed inaccurate in the sixteenth century, by Johannes Kepler’s model, it was enough to show how inaccurate and wrong Ptolemy’s model was. The main aim behind this study is to examine how inaccurate and wrong Ptolemy model of the solar system was. In addition, the study will be re-evaluating Ptolemy’s merits as an astronomer by examining some of the facts that he provided in his model of the solar system. The main objective behind the Almagest was to create a model that showed the solar system from earth. In his model, Ptolemy tries to explain the motion of the planets visible from earth the sun and the moon. However, in his model of the solar system Ptolemy lives out critical details of how these motions in his model occur or what courses this motion. This is why scholars and astronomers view the model as incorrect and fluid since it lucks basic evidence to support his facts. However, in his model, Ptolemy was able to provide some calculations such as how far the other planets are from earth by using the radius to measure. This helped, in that Copernicus was able to use this calculation in his own advanced and correct model of the solar system. Through Kepler’s model, which is considered, correct and more accurate than the two that came before it, one of the main things that one will learn is that plants obit the sun and is actually confocal to it. Such trajectories that the planets use called ellipses have two main factors that make them unique. These two facts can be used to see how inaccurate Ptolemy model from the sun is. Primarily, the obits are considered eccentric. This means that the sun, which is in the center, is rather in this model displaced due to geometric displacement of the sun. Second, each planet in the solar system has a particular axis from which it is elongated. This means that they are elliptical. Unluckier Kepler who came up with a theory that proved that the earth and other planets revolved the sun in their own obits, Ptolemy tries to study the plants and sun from earth hence missing extremely vital points. In his model of the solar system the Almagest, Ptolemy neglects the ellipticities of the obits that plants travel in and rather concentrates on comparing the eccentricities. This proves to be a massive error on his part since he omits extremely crucial details about the planets. According to scientist, this remains as one of his main weakens in his model. By not calculating the ellipticities, Ptolemy misses what scientists define as excellent approximation. Also in his model, Kepler also suggests that the radius connecting all the plants to the sun remains equal throughout through vectors that connect the sun to the planets. According to his model, this is again used to show the inaccuracy of the Almagest, the planets move around the sun in a non-uniform order. This movement around the orbit is presented as being caused by the eccentric circles that each plant axis revolves on as the go around the sun. By measuring the sun's distance from every planet, it is possible to conclude that the Almagest lucked accuracy in its classification of planets and the sun. Important calculations of the planets trajectory around the sun lucked proper explanation. However, as much as the Almagest lucks accuracy, Ptolemy was able to discover how the plants lucked a uniform rotation in his model. This discovery is in fact one of the main reasons his model became famous From the discussion above, one will notice that the geocentric replica of Ptolemy is alike to a heliocentric representation of planetary systems, in which the different planetary trajectories are signified as unconventional circles. Also by following the discussion above, it is clear to understand how the connection through radius vector helps given planet to connect to its parallel equant hence helping it to spin at an unvarying speed. However, through studying his model, one will notice that his model of the Almagest has certain details that can be considered as accurate (Woodward, pp267). For instance, Ptolemy study of the planetary eccentricities s considered one of the main discoveries that were accurate. His general representation of the planets alignment to the sun was also considered as being accurate. However the single and most inaccurate facts that most scientist disagree with in his study, is the fact that he terms the earth a motionless. According to studies about the earth, it is known that it rotates on its own axis and revolves around the sun this presents seasonal changes that the earth experiences. According to scientist, by declaring the earth motionless, Ptolemy only concentrated on the circular motion that he studied from other planets. In realty Kepler model shows how the circular motion of the sun that Ptolemy describes in his model represents the rotation of the earth on its own axis. The second motion in realty represents the movement of the moon around the earth hence night and day. According to Kepler, the earth is the only planet in the solar system that has a moon that rotates around it. According to scientific theories, the Almagest requires many circles to fit in as an acceptable theory. This according to studies done is one of the main reasons why Ptolemy’s model is inaccurate. The observation data that is presented in his model makes his study null and void Ptolemy has been repeatedly blamed of unoriginal devotion to the philosophical theories that he used to come to his conclusion. According to scientist his doctrine and model of the solar system fails to understand or comprehend the motions that are put in place for a solar system to exist (Louise pp152). However, in spite of Ptolemy's predictable geocentrism, the Almagest model system departs from conventional Aristotelism in a crucial way. According to astronomer, Ptolemy uses unpopular arguments such as those made Aristotle when he argued that all Heavenly bodies, this being planets and stars and the sun, move on a uniform circle. According to scientist this doctrines are only based on philosophical standpoints and cannot be used to prove any model involving the solar system. This was because they luck vital facts and are only purely based on a philosophy. However, in respect to Ptolemy his model show those planets are linked by two particular circles that help in the motion of the planets. Ptolemy shows how one of the motions of the circles is non-uniform. Secondly, according to Aristotle the earth was in the center of the solar system. This argument was purely based on philosophy rather than scientific facts. Aristotle went on to argue that all other heavenly bodies obit the earth circle exactly at the center of the earth. However, as much as Ptolemy used these philosophical theories, one can easily see that from his model, the earth is slightly displaced from the center of the universe (Woodward, pp203). However, this is also wrong since, scientifically there is no center of the universe since all the plants circle the sun. According to James Mclachlan he only thing that can be said to be in the center of the solar system is the sun since all planets go around the sun. Scientific proof shows that no other plant in the solar system has a center that coincides with that of earth as presented in the Almagest. This proves how inaccurate the model is. However, it is critical to understand what most of the observations made by Ptolemy were made only from observation from earth and the use of philosophical doctrines (Mclachlan pp. 67). However, by studying his model one will learn that Ptolemy was not afraid to deviate from the philosophical doctrines whenever he made an observation that did not much what the doctrine suggested. This aspect alone makes some of his study and work extremely reliable. One the contrary, one must also notice that most of the facts that he presents appear t be lame or inaccurate. The act that he views the earth as being close to the center of the universe makes his readings inaccurate and undependable. Scientific theories have shown ahoy each plant has its unique center that revolves around the sun hence making the sun the legitimate center of the universe (Louise pp149). According to resent data, the most superior plant is that that is farthest from the sun than the earth. . However, this theory ‘differs with Ptolemy’s theory since his theory suggested that the sun was the farthest hence making it more superior. However, what Ptolemy described as a motion around the earth was actually motion around the sun. Owing to the rotation of the earth on its axis, Ptolemy viewed as though the other planets revolved around the world, which was, in fact, inaccurate. Data reviled that what looked as though it connected the other planets to the center of the earth was, in fact, connecting all planets, earth included, to the center of the sun. In addition, unlike Ptolemy’s model, the Almagest, that showed that all planets moved in the same motion, data revels that each planet in the solar system revolves around in motion unique to each of them (Louise pp147). These vital contradictions have proved how inaccurate Ptolemy’s readings and studies were. In addition, this study has shown how ineffective philosophical theories were when it came to the study of the solar system. Ptolemy study suggested earth as the being, not in the center but almost the center. However, through Keplers study it has been proved how inefficient these studies were. Most scientists believe that Ptolemy’s inaccurate reading was due t the study he did on other philosophical works (Hardorp pp10). However, Ptolemy is appreciated for providing some light that helped in the establishment of a model that explains the solar system. Through his observation, Ptolemy was able to identify that each plant had two circles that helped in the motion around earth’s center. As much as this remains potentially inaccurate, his discovery led to an outbreak of scientific measures that led to the understanding of the solar system. According to Keplers version of the solar system, what Ptolemy defined as the movement of the planets around the earth was actually the movement of the earth around the sun (Hardorp pp10). This is information is valid based on evidence that he gathered through observation the sun is static and motionless this makes it the center since all planets revolve around it. It is necessary to understand this unique combination since it helps in seeing how inaccurate Ptolemy readings were and how his dedication to philosophical doctrines made it inaccurate (Mclachlan pp. 45). As seen in this study, It is evident that misconceptions proliferate concerning the facts that Ptolemy's model of the solar system offer. In addition, as seen in this study, questions regarding the merit of his work have been questioned by disapproving them through scientific facts. The Almagest is considered one of the most complicated models of the solar system yet to be made. In addition, it remains extremely complicated for any one studying the solar system to fully comprehend. For instance, Ptolemy uses complicated geometry to explain all his calculations. This use of complicated geometry comes out as opaque and lengthy hence lucking proof. Furthermore, the circular trigonometry used by Ptolemy is or can be described as being rather primal in nature, and, as a result, rather awkward. Work cited: Louise M. Prockter, D. The Study of Mercury. Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union 6:S269, pages 141-154. 2010 Mclachlan, James. “Ptolemy Versus Copernicus.” Calliope 14.6:6. MAS Ultra-School Edition. Web.30 Nov.2012. 2004 Hardorp, Johannes. “Ptolemy’s originality.” American Journal of Physics. October 1987. Volume 55, Issue 10, pp. 874 October 1987 Harley, J.B., and David Woodward, eds. Cartography in Prehistoric, Ancient, and Medieval Europe and the Mediterranean. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press, 1987. Print. Vol. 1 Chapter 11 of The History of Cartography. Gingerich, Owen. "The Trouble with Ptolemy." Isis. 93.1 (2002): 70-74. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. The History of Cartography, Volume 1 Read More