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  3. Nicholar Copernicus, a Polish scholar, was the first great astronomer of the Renaissance who challenged the long-held geocentric

Nicholar Copernicus, a Polish scholar, was the first great astronomer of the Renaissance who challenged the long-held geocentric

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问题    Nicholar Copernicus, a Polish scholar, was the first great astronomer of the Renaissance who challenged the long-held geocentric view of the universe. He revolutionized science and the conception of the universe with his heliocentric theory of planetary movement. He held that the earth was not the center of the universe, around which moved the sun, moon, and stars. The earth is one of several heavenly bodies which all revolve about the sun. He gave a detailed account of his theory in his book On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres. He knew only too well that the result of his long and lonely researches would arouse a storm of opposition, since it contradicted many statements held by the Church. So he delayed the publication of his discoveries until he lay paralyzed on his deathbed. Often credited with founding modern astronomy, Copernicus influenced later European scientists, such as Kepler, Galileo and Newton.
   Giordano Bruno, an Italian priest and philosopher, was so imbued with the scientific thought of his time that he became the first great philosopher to expound the Copernican system. Filled with many doubts, dissatisfied with the old astronomical theory of the universe, he discarded his priest’s robe and began a life of a wanderer. In his works he stated that the universe is infinite and that the earth is only a small body. Because of his endorsement for the Copernican theory, he was burned to death at the stake in 1600.
  Galileo, one of the chief founders of modern science: His principal scientific contributions were to astronomy and mechanics, notably his observations with the newly invented telescope and his investigation of the laws of motion.
   In astronomy, Galileo popularized the Copernican theory. In 1609, he heard of a new Dutch invention, the telescope. He built one of his own and turned it on the heavens. The new instrument enabled him to make several important discoveries, including the craters and mountains of the moon, and the four brightest moons of Jupiter. One of his most important discoveries was that Venus passes through phases from full to crescent, thus confirming that Venus is a planet.
   Galileo’s work and especially his support for the Copernican theory brought him into disfavor with the Roman Catholic Church. He was interrogated by the papal court and forced to disown his findings.
   Johannes Kepler, a German astronomer and mathematician, was a strong supporter of the heliocentric theory of Copernicus. By using the astronomical observations recorded by Tycho Brahe, he formulated three famous laws of planetary motion. He made an intensive study of the orbits of the planets and proved that the orbit of a planet is an ellipse instead of a perfect circle as was the ancient belief. He made other important discoveries that became a milestone in man’ s knowledge of the universe.
   The new view of the universe was completed in the 17th century when Issac Newton discovered the force of gravity which kept planets orbiting the sun and prevented people from being thrown off the moving earth.
The new view of the universe was completed by the discovery made by ______.
选项 A、Issac Newton
B、Johannes Kepler
C、Galileo
D、Nicholar Copernicus
答案A
解析
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