The Ballet of the Planets

A Mathematician's Musings on the Elegance of Planetary Motion

Nonfiction, Science & Nature, Science, Physics, Astronomy, Mathematics
Cover of the book The Ballet of the Planets by Donald Benson, Oxford University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Donald Benson ISBN: 9780199939299
Publisher: Oxford University Press Publication: May 11, 2012
Imprint: Oxford University Press Language: English
Author: Donald Benson
ISBN: 9780199939299
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication: May 11, 2012
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Language: English

The Ballet of the Planets unravels the beautiful mystery of planetary motion, revealing how our understanding of astronomy evolved from Archimedes and Ptolemy to Copernicus, Kepler, and Newton. Mathematician Donald Benson shows that ancient theories of planetary motion were based on the assumptions that the Earth was the center of the universe and the planets moved in a uniform circular motion. Since ancient astronomers noted that occasionally a planet would exhibit retrograde motion--would seem to reverse its direction and move briefly westward--they concluded that the planets moved in epicyclic curves, circles with smaller interior loops, similar to the patterns of a child's Spirograph. With the coming of the Copernican revolution, the retrograde motion was seen to be apparent rather than real, leading to the idea that the planets moved in ellipses. This laid the ground for Newton's great achievement--integrating the concepts of astronomy and mechanics--which revealed not only how the planets moved, but also why. Throughout, Benson focuses on naked-eye astronomy, which makes it easy for the novice to grasp the work of these pioneers of astronomy.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The Ballet of the Planets unravels the beautiful mystery of planetary motion, revealing how our understanding of astronomy evolved from Archimedes and Ptolemy to Copernicus, Kepler, and Newton. Mathematician Donald Benson shows that ancient theories of planetary motion were based on the assumptions that the Earth was the center of the universe and the planets moved in a uniform circular motion. Since ancient astronomers noted that occasionally a planet would exhibit retrograde motion--would seem to reverse its direction and move briefly westward--they concluded that the planets moved in epicyclic curves, circles with smaller interior loops, similar to the patterns of a child's Spirograph. With the coming of the Copernican revolution, the retrograde motion was seen to be apparent rather than real, leading to the idea that the planets moved in ellipses. This laid the ground for Newton's great achievement--integrating the concepts of astronomy and mechanics--which revealed not only how the planets moved, but also why. Throughout, Benson focuses on naked-eye astronomy, which makes it easy for the novice to grasp the work of these pioneers of astronomy.

More books from Oxford University Press

Cover of the book A Feminist in the White House by Donald Benson
Cover of the book The New Anti-Catholicism by Donald Benson
Cover of the book Sensing the Past by Donald Benson
Cover of the book Teaching American English Pronunciation - Oxford Handbooks for Language Teachers by Donald Benson
Cover of the book Sugata Saurabha An Epic Poem from Nepal on the Life of the Buddha by Chittadhar Hridaya by Donald Benson
Cover of the book Identity, Conflict and Politics in Turkey, Iran and Pakistan by Donald Benson
Cover of the book Coherentism: Oxford Bibliographies Online Research Guide by Donald Benson
Cover of the book Evolutionary Forensic Psychology by Donald Benson
Cover of the book Toward a Planned Society by Donald Benson
Cover of the book Muslims in America : A Short History by Donald Benson
Cover of the book Knowing by Donald Benson
Cover of the book Lupus by Donald Benson
Cover of the book The Oxford Handbook of Personnel Assessment and Selection by Donald Benson
Cover of the book Bridges between Worlds by Donald Benson
Cover of the book The Oxford Handbook of Language Production by Donald Benson
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy