EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -As long ago as 340 BC the Greek philosopher Aristotle, in his book On the Heavens, was able to put forward two good arguments for believing that the earth was a round sphere rather than a flat plate.

Detailed explanation-2: -What were the known planets at the time of Aristotle? Aristotle, around 350 BC, in Ancient Greece, defended the idea that the Earth was the center of the universe and that nine spheres revolved around it, the first being the Moon. Then came Mercury, followed by Venus.

Detailed explanation-3: -Aristotle, who lived from 384 to 322 BC, believed the Earth was round. He thought Earth was the center of the universe and that the Sun, Moon, planets, and all the fixed stars revolved around it. Aristotle’s ideas were widely accepted by the Greeks of his time.

Detailed explanation-4: -Aristotle (384-322 BC) was among the first to recognize the fact of our planet being a round sphere. He observed lunar eclipses and noticed that only a round sphere could imply a circular shadow. This astronomical observation was confirmed by general observations made at sea.

Detailed explanation-5: -In Aristotle’s Cosmology, each of these four elements (earth, water, fire and air) had a weight. Earth was the heaviest, water less so, and air and fire the lightest. According to Aristotle the lighter substances moved away from the center of the universe and the heaver elements settled into the center.