The Project Physics Course Text and Handbook 2 Motion in the Heavens The Project Physics Course Text and Handbook UNIT 2 Motion in the Heavens Published by A Component of the HOLT, RINEHART and WINSTON, Inc. Project Physics Course New York, Toronto Directors of Harvard Project Physics Acknowledgments, Text Section Gerald Holton, Department of Physics, Harvard The authors and publisher have made every effort University to trace the ownership of all selections found F. James Rutherford, Capuchino High School, in this book and to make full acknowledgment for San Bruno, California, and Harvard University their use. Many of the selections are in public Fletcher G. Watson, Harvard Graduate School domain. of Education Grateful acknowledgment is hereby made to the following authors, pubhshers, agents, and in- dividuals for use of their copyrighted material. Special Consultant 21, 22 Ptolemy, "The Almagest," Trans, by to Project Physics Pp. Taliaferro, R. Catesby, Great Books of the Western World, Vol. 5-12 not inclusive, Andrew Ahlgren, Harvard Graduate School of 16, pp. 1952 by Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Education copyright P. 29 Rosen, Edward, Trans. "The Commentariolus of Copernicus," Three Copernican Treatises, A partial bst of staff Columbia University Press, pp. 57-58. and consultants to Harvard Project Pp. 31, 32 Copernicus, "De Revolutionibus," Physics appears on page iv ("On the Revolutions of Heavenly Spheres"), Great Books of the Western World. Vol. 16. pp. 514 and 508, copyright 1939 by Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. This Text and Handbook, Unit 2 is one of the Pp. 31, 32, 33 Rosen, op. cit., pp. 58-59. many instructional materials developed for the P. 38 Knedler, John W.. Jr., Masterworks of Project Physics Course. These materials include Science, Doubleday and Company, Inc., pp. 67-69. Texts, Handbooks, Teacher Resource Books, Pp. 39, 40 Copernicus, Great Books of the Readers, Programmed Instruction booklets. Film Western World, op. cit., pp 514, 515, copyright Loops, Transparencies, 16mm films, and labo- 1939 by Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. ratory equipment. P. 43 Buttei-field, H., Origins of Modern Science, 1300-1800, p. 41, copyright © 1957 by The Macmillan Company. P. 66 Shapley, Harlow, and Howarth, Helen E., A Source Book in Astronomy, copyright © 1956 by Harvard University Press. Pp. 70, 71 Drake, Stillman, Discoveries and Opinions of Galileo, pp. 29, 31, 51, copyright © 1957 by Doubleday & Company. Inc. Pp. 73, 74 GaUlei, Galileo. Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, trans. Stillman Drake, pp. 123-124, copyright © 1967 by University of California Press. Pp. 74, 75 Von Gebler, Karl. Galileo Galilei and the Roman Curia, trans. Mrs. George Sturge, C. Kegan Paul and Company, p. 26. Pp. 85, 86 Needham. Joseph, and Pagel. Walter, eds., Background to Modern Science, The Mac- millan Company, pp. 73-74. P. 86 Stukeley. William. Memoirs of Sir Isaac Newton's Life, Taylor and Francis, p. 21. written in 1752. Pp. 86, 87 Anthony, H. D., Sir'isaac Newton, p. 96. copyright © 1960 by Abelard-Schuman Ltd. Copyright © 1970, Project Physics P. 88 Newton. Sir Isaac. The Principia, Vol. I, All Rights Reserved Motte's translation revised by Cajori. pp. xvii- 2nd Printing April, 1971 xviii, copyright © 1961 by University of 3rd Printing May, 1972 California Press. ISBN 0-03-084498-3 Pp. 88, 89, 97 Ibid.. Vol. II. pp. 398-408 and 234567890 039 9876543 p. 547. copyright © 1962 by University of Project Physics is a registered trademark California Press. p. 89 Pope, Alexander, Epitaph Intended for P. 11 Mount Wilson and Palomar Observa- Sir Isaac Newton (1732). tories P. 115 Fontenelle, "Preface sur L'UtiUte des P. 18 DeGolyer Collection, University of Mathematlques et de la Physique" from Oeuvres Oklahoma Libraries. in Completes (1818), Randall, John H., Jr., P. 28 Jagiellonian Library, University of The Making of the Modern Mind, p. 254, Revised Krakow, Poland. Edition, copyright 1940 by Mifflin Houghton P. 29 Muzeum Okregowe in Torun. Courtesy Company. of Dr. Owen Gingerich. P 117 Wilson, James, The Works the Honour- of P. 42 Jagiellonian Library, University of Wilson, able James pubUshed under direction of Krakow, Poland. Wilson, Bird, Bronson and Chauncey, pp. 411-412, P. 46 (top left) from Atlas Major, vol. I, Jan not inclusive. Blaeu, 1664; (bottom left) The Mansell Collec- Pp. 118, 119 Burtt, E. A. The Metaphysical tion, London; Danish Information Office. Foundations of Modern Science, pp. 238-239, P. 47 Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Humanities Press, Inc. courtesy of Dr. Owen Gingerich. P. 120 Laplace, A Philosophical Essay on P. 48 (top left) from Brahe, Tycho, Astro- Probabilities, first published in Paris (1814), nomiae Instauratae Mechanica, Phihp von Ohr, trans. Truscott, Frederick and Emory, Frederick, Wandsbeck, 1598; (bottom photograph) by John Dover Pubhcations, Inc., p. 4. Bryson, reprinted with permission from P 120 Darwan, Erasmus, quoted by Charles Darwin HOLIDAY, 1966, the Curtis Publishing Company. in his preface to Krause, Erasmus Darwin, D. P. 50 Mount Wilson and Palomar Observa- Appleton and Company, p. 44. tories. P. 54 (portrait) The Bettmann Archive. P. 56 Kepler, Johannes, Mysterium cosmo- graphicum, Linz, 1596. P. 62 Archives, Academy of Sciences, Picture Credits, Text Section Leningrad, U.S.S.R. Photo courtesy of Dr. Owen Gingerich. Cover photograph : the orrery on the cover P. 69 Instituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza, was made in 1830 by Newton of Chancery Lane, Florence, Italy. London. The earth and moon are geared; the P. 71 DeGolyer Collection, University of rest of the planets have to be set by hand. It is Oklahoma Libraries. from the Collection of Historical Scientific P. 72 (middle photograph) Lowell Observatory Instruments at Harvard University. Photograph Photograph by Albert Gregory, Jr. P. 74 Alinari—Art Reference Bureau. P. 77 Bill Bridges. Opposite p. 1 Aztec Calendar Stone in the P. 81 Courtesy of Biblioteca Nazionale Museo Nacional, Mexico City. Photo courtesy of Centrale, Florence. the American Museum of Natural History, New P. 82 Yerkes Observatory York. P. 85 (drawing) from a manuscript by Newton P. 1 Collection of Historical Scientific Instru- in the University Library, Cambridge; (portrait) ments, Harvard University. engraved by Bt. Reading from a painting by Sir P. 2 (top) Stephen Perrln. Peter Lely. Trinity College Library, Cambridge. P. 3 Courtesy of the Trustees of the British P. 96 Descartes, Rene, Principia Philosophiae, Museum, London. 1664. P. 4 Frontispiece from Recueil de plusieurs P. 102 Courtesy of NASA. traitez de Mathematique de I'Academie Royals P. 105 Cavendish, Henry, Philosophical Trans- des Sciences, 1676. actions of the Royal Society, vol. 88, 198. P. 6 Emil Schultess, Black Star Publishing P. 1 16 Print Collection of the Federal Company, Inc. Institute of Technology, Zurich. P. 9 (top left) John Stofan; (top right) John All photographs not credited above were made Bufkin, Macon, Missouri, Feb. 1964. by the staff of Harvard Project Physics. Partial List of Staff and Consultants The individuals listed below (and on the following pages) have each contributed in some way to the development of the course materials. Their periods of participation ranged from brief consultations to full-time involvement in the team for several years. The affiliations indicated are those just prior to or during the period of participation. Advisory Committee Donald Brittain, National Film Board of Canada, Montreal E. G. Begle, Stanford University, Calif. Joan Bromberg, Harvard University Paul F. Brandwein, Harcourt, Brace & World, Vinson Bronson, Newton South High School, Inc., San Francisco, Calif. Newton Centre, Mass. Robert Brode, University of California, Berkeley Stephen G. Brush, Lawrence Radiation Laboratory. Erwin Hiebert, University of Wisconsin, Madison University of California, Livermore Harry Kelly, North Carolina State College, Raleigh Michael Butler, CIASA Films Mundiales, S. A., William C. Kelly, National Research Council, Mexico Washington, D.C. Leon Callihan, St. Mark's School of Texas, Dallas Philippe LeCorbeiller, New School for Social Douglas Campbell, Harvard University Research, New York, N.Y. Arthur Campbell, Harvey Mudd College, Thomas Miner, Garden City High School, New J. Claremont, Calif. York. Philip Morrison, Massachusetts Institute of Dean R. Casperson, Harvard University Technology, Cambridge Bobby Chambers, Oak Ridge Associated Ernest Nagel, Columbia University, New York, Universities, Tenn. N.Y. Robert Chesley, Thacher School, Ojai, Calif. Leonard K. Nash, Harvard University John Christensen, Oak Ridge Associated I. I. Rabi, Columbia University, New York, N.Y. Universities, Tenn. Dora Clark, W. G. Enloe High School, Raleigh, N.C. David Staff and Consultants Clarke, Browne and Nichols School, Cambridge. Mass. L. K. Akers, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Robert S. Cohen, Boston University, Mass. Tenn. Brother Columban Francis. F.S.C., Mater Christi Roger A. Albrecht, Osage Community Schools, Diocesan High School, Long Island City, N.Y. Iowa Arthur Compton, Phillips Exeter Academy, David Anderson, Oberlin College, Ohio Exeter, N.H. Gary Anderson, Harvard University David L. Cone, Los Altos High School, Calif. Donald Armstrong, American Science Film Wilham Cooley, University of Pittsburgh, Pa. Association, Washington, D.C. Ann Couch, Harvard University Arnold Arons, University of Washington Paul Cowan, Hardin-Simmons University, Sam Ascher, Henry Ford High School, Detroit, Abilene, Tex. Mich. Charles Davis, Fairfax County