Which one of the following astronomers proved that the Earth and other planets revolve around the Sun?
- (a)Copernicus
- (b)Kepler
- (c)Galileo
- (d)Newton
Correct — A, Copernicus. Nicolaus Copernicus put forward the heliocentric model in 'De revolutionibus orbium coelestium' (1543), showing that the Earth and the other planets revolve around the Sun rather than the Earth being the centre. This overturned the old Earth-centred (geocentric) view.
- (b)Kepler — Johannes Kepler refined the model with his three laws of planetary motion (elliptical orbits), building on Copernicus rather than first establishing heliocentrism.
- (c)Galileo — Galileo's telescopic observations (moons of Jupiter, phases of Venus) provided strong evidence for heliocentrism, but the model itself was proposed by Copernicus.
- (d)Newton — Isaac Newton later explained WHY the planets orbit the Sun (universal gravitation), long after the heliocentric model was established.
The Copernican Revolution replaced the geocentric (Earth-centred) cosmos of Ptolemy with a heliocentric (Sun-centred) one. Copernicus proposed it (1543); Kepler gave the precise laws of elliptical planetary motion; Galileo supplied observational proof; Newton then explained the orbits through gravitation.
This is a 'who did what' item in the history of astronomy. The heliocentric idea itself belongs to Copernicus; the others advanced or explained it. Matching each scientist to their contribution isolates the answer.
- Copernicus proposed the heliocentric (Sun-centred) model in 1543.
- Kepler formulated the three laws of planetary motion.
- Galileo's telescope gave observational support for heliocentrism.
- Newton explained planetary orbits with universal gravitation.
- Crediting Galileo or Kepler with the model itself — they supported/refined Copernicus.
- Note: Copernicus 'proposed' heliocentrism; Galileo and Kepler later provided evidence and laws.
Asked as who proposed the heliocentric model, or matching astronomers to their contributions.
No directly related past PYQ was found.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The three laws of planetary motion (elliptical orbits) were given by
- (a)Copernicus
- (b)Kepler
- (c)Galileo
- (d)Newton
Answer(b) Kepler.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Who explained why planets orbit the Sun using the law of universal gravitation?
- (a)Copernicus
- (b)Kepler
- (c)Galileo
- (d)Newton
Answer(d) Newton.