Astronomy quiz question: evidence contradicting Earth-centered universe

Astronomy 210 Quiz 2, Spring Semester 2010
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

__________ made observations that were used as evidence that Earth could not be center of motion in the universe.
(A) Copernicus.
(B) Tycho.
(C) Kepler.
(D) Galileo.

Correct answer: (D)

While Copernicus placed the sun at the center of the planetary orbits, his model was not based on observations. Kepler analyzed Tycho's observations to come with empirical laws that accurately described planetary motion along elliptical orbits. Galileo's observations of Jupiter's moons, and Venus' gibbous phases were used as evidence that Earth was not the sole center of motion in the universe. However, Galileo's observations cannot be taken as evidence that Earth moves about the sun...

Section 30676
(A) : 22 students
(B) : 15 students
(C) : 10 students
(D) : 27 students

"Success level": 40% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.50