We know the Earth rotates, but how do we know? When and how did it become reasonable to believe that the Earth rotates?
This book offers a historical account, from ancient Greek science to the theory of relativity and ultimately to videos taken from outer space, of how this widely known truth came to be. Using an accessible and entertaining narrative suitable for anyone interested in astronomy, physics, or the history of either, Kosso clarifies the use of evidence to prove that the Earth rotates, and deals with the tension between the claims that the Earth is absolutely in motion, yet all motion is relative. The book also explores the general nature of scientific evidence and method, and confronts challenges to science from outside the discipline.
Author(s): Peter Kosso
Publisher: World Scientific Europe
Year: 2020
Language: English
Pages: 250
City: London
Cover
Half title page
Title page
Copyright page
Preface
Contents
About the Author
CHAPTER 1 On Uncertainty
The Ancient Perspective
CHAPTER 2 To Save the Phenomena
CHAPTER 3 Aristotle’s Standard Model
CHAPTER 4 Tinkering with the Standard Model
CHAPTER 5 Moving the Earth
CHAPTER 6 The Best of Both Worlds
CHAPTER 7 On Skepticism
The Modern Perspective
CHAPTER 8 The Two Chief World Systems
CHAPTER 9 New Astronomy and the Great Magnet
CHAPTER 10 Rotational Dynamics and Absolute Space
CHAPTER 11 Foucault’s Pendulum
The Postmodern Perspective
CHAPTER 12 Mach’s Principle
CHAPTER 13 Relativity
The Extraterrestrial Perspective
CHAPTER 14 The Final Frontier
CHAPTER 15 All Things Considered
Timeline of Important Events and Ideas, Evidence and Theories Regarding the Rotation of the Earth
Notes
Bibliography
Index
