Physical Science Worksheet No.

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE-QUEZON CITY

SHS VITO L. BELARMINO SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

GOVERNMENT PROPERTY NOT FOR SALE

Name: ____________________________ Section: __________

Date: _______________________________Score: __________

MODELS OF THE UNIVERSE

DIRECTIONS: at the end of this worksheet, the student be able to:

1. Discuss the thoughts of philosophers about the shape of the Earth and its
importance.
2. Enumerate the examples of astronomical phenomena.
3. Solve problems using Kepler’s third law of planetary motion.
Q2_W1_Science 9_ Explain how the Greeks knew that the Earth is spherical. Code: S11/12PS -IVa -38.
Cite some examples of astronomical phenomena known to astronomers before the advent of telescopes.
Code: S11/12PS -IVa -4. Explain how Brahe’s innovations and extensive collection of data in
observational astronomy paved the way for Kepler’s discovery of his laws of planetary motion. Code:
S11/12PS -IVb -44

Introduction:

Around 500 B.C., most Greeks believed that the Earth was round, not flat. It was Pythagoras and his pupils who
were first to propose a spherical Earth. In 500 to 430 B.C., Anaxagoras further supported Pythagoras' proposal through his
observations of the shadows that the Earth cast on the Moon during a lunar eclipse. He observed that during a lunar eclipse,
the Earth's shadow was reflected on the Moon's surface. The shadow reflected was circular. Around 340 B.C., Aristotle listed
several arguments for a spherical Earth which included the positions of the North Star, the shape of the Moon and the Sun,
and the disappearance of the ships when they sail over the horizon. Ancient scholars tried to provide proof of a spherical
Earth and its circumference through calculations. Eratosthenes then determined the angle the Sun made with the vertical
direction by measuring the shadow that a vertical stick cast. He found out that in Alexandria, the Sun makes an angle of 7.2º
from the vertical while 0 º in Syrene. From his measurements, he computed the circumference of the Earth to be
approximately 250, 000 stadia about 40, 000 killometers.

Even before the invention of the telescope, ancient people have already observed different astronomical
phenomena. The most observable objects in the sky are the sun and moon. By looking at the shadows that the gnomon casts,
they were able to observe that the sun rises in the eastern part of the sky, reaches its highest point in midday, and sets in the
western part of the sky. Also, they recorded that the points where the sun rises and sets on the horizon varies over a year and
these variations happen periodically.

Ancient people have observed that the moon changes its path and its appearance within a period of 29.5 days.
They observed that the moon changes its appearance from thin semi-circular disk to full circular disk. These phases of the
moon are the basis of ancient calendars. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth casts its shadow on the moon when the Earth
is between the Sun and the Moon.

A phenomenon such as this is known as a lunar eclipse wherein the moon changes into a dark or blood red color.
Aside from lunar eclipse, the occurrence of a solar eclipse was also observed. It was also observed that the stars appear to
be attached to a celestial sphere that rotates around an axis in one day. Also, the constellations’ positions in the night sky
vary depending on the time of the year.

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Quarter II, Week 1 Competency: Science 9_ Explain how the Greeks knew that the Earth is spherical. Code:
S11/12PS -IVa -38. Cite some examples of astronomical phenomena known to astronomers before the advent of
telescopes. Code: S11/12PS -IVa -4. Explain how Brahe’s innovations and extensive collection of data in observational
astronomy paved the way for Kepler’s discovery of his laws of planetary motion. Code: S11/12PS -IVb -44
Physical Science Worksheet No.: 1
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Astronomers have discovered that Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are planets because they have
noticed that the stars are in a fixed position with respect to each other. But there are very bright stars that change positions
periodically which are called “wanderers” or planets in Greek terms.

Source: Adapted from DepEd Physical Science Quarter 2 Module 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwzS4hVxYHE

ACTIVITY 1: Test Aristotle’s studies

Directions:
1. Prepare a flashlight and two ping pong balls. In a dark room, align the flashlight and the
balls horizontally.
2. Illuminate one ball with the flashlight and observe he shadow it casts on the ball behind
it.
Guide Questions:
1. What is the shape of the shadow?
2. How is the result of the experiment related to Aristotle’s arguments about the shape of the
Earth?
3. If you use a different object, like two Rubik’s cubes instead of ping pong balls, will I cast the
same shape of shadow? Explain.
4. What would life on Earth be like if it is not a sphere?

ACTIVITY 2: Astronomical Phenomena

Directions: Complete the statements below. Write you answers on a separate sheet of paper.

Even before the advent of the telescopes, ancient astronomers were able to observe the following:
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Quarter II, Week 1 Competency: Science 9_ Explain how the Greeks knew that the Earth is spherical. Code:
S11/12PS -IVa -38. Cite some examples of astronomical phenomena known to astronomers before the advent of
telescopes. Code: S11/12PS -IVa -4. Explain how Brahe’s innovations and extensive collection of data in observational
astronomy paved the way for Kepler’s discovery of his laws of planetary motion. Code: S11/12PS -IVb -44
Physical Science Worksheet No.: 1
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 rising and setting of the ___(1)____ in the east and the west, respectively,
 point where the Sun rises and sets in the ____(2)____ varies in a year,
 phases of the ____(3)____.
 Lunar ____(4)____,
 ___(5)___ eclipse,
 daily and annual motion of the ___(6)___, and
 planets Mercury, ____(7)____, ___(8)____, ____(9)____, and ____(10)___.
ACTIVITY 3: Using Kepler’s Third Law
Directions: Solve the following problems using Kepler’s third law of planetary motion.

1. Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, has a mean orbital radius of 1.22 x 10 9 m. The orbital speed
of Titan is 15.95 days. Hyperion, another moon of Saturn, orbits a mean radius of 1.48 x 10 9
m. Use Kepler’s third law of planetary motion to predict the orbital period of Hyperion in
days.

2. The mass of Earth is 5.97 x 1024 kg, the mass of the Moon is 7.35x1022 kg, and the mean
distance of the Moon from the center of Earth is 3.84 x 10 5 km. Use these data to calculate the
magnitude of the gravitational force exerted by Earth on the Moon.

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Quarter II, Week 1 Competency: Science 9_ Explain how the Greeks knew that the Earth is spherical. Code:
S11/12PS -IVa -38. Cite some examples of astronomical phenomena known to astronomers before the advent of
telescopes. Code: S11/12PS -IVa -4. Explain how Brahe’s innovations and extensive collection of data in observational
astronomy paved the way for Kepler’s discovery of his laws of planetary motion. Code: S11/12PS -IVb -44