Discoverer of planetary motion. © 2006 Plano ISD, Plano, TX/Klein ISD 2007 Kepler was born prematurely in 1571 in Weil Der Stadt, Wurtennberg. His parents

discoverer of planetary motiondiscoverer of planetary motiondiscoverer of planetary motiondiscoverer of planetary motion

© 2006 Plano ISD, Plano, TX/Klein ISD 2007

Kepler was born Kepler was born prematurely in prematurely in

1571 in Weil Der 1571 in Weil Der Stadt, Stadt,

Wurtennberg.Wurtennberg.

Kepler was born Kepler was born prematurely in prematurely in

1571 in Weil Der 1571 in Weil Der Stadt, Stadt,

Wurtennberg.Wurtennberg.

His parents were His parents were poor. His father poor. His father

was a soldier. His was a soldier. His mother was an mother was an

innkeeper’s innkeeper’s daughter.daughter.

His parents were His parents were poor. His father poor. His father

was a soldier. His was a soldier. His mother was an mother was an

innkeeper’s innkeeper’s daughter.daughter.

Johannes was a Johannes was a sickly child.sickly child.

Johannes was a Johannes was a sickly child.sickly child.


Kepler was a Kepler was a very religious very religious

man. He earned man. He earned a scholarship and a scholarship and went to school at went to school at

Tubigen Tubigen University to University to

become a become a Luthern minister. Luthern minister.

Kepler was a Kepler was a very religious very religious

man. He earned man. He earned a scholarship and a scholarship and went to school at went to school at

Tubigen Tubigen University to University to

become a become a Luthern minister. Luthern minister.

* Tubingen* Tubingen

He became very He became very interested in interested in

mathematics and mathematics and astronomy.astronomy.

He became very He became very interested in interested in

mathematics and mathematics and astronomy.astronomy.


At the University of Tubigen, a math At the University of Tubigen, a math professor introduced him to the works professor introduced him to the works

of Nicolaus Copernicus.of Nicolaus Copernicus.

At the University of Tubigen, a math At the University of Tubigen, a math professor introduced him to the works professor introduced him to the works

of Nicolaus Copernicus.of Nicolaus Copernicus.


Copernicus was a Polish astronomer Copernicus was a Polish astronomer who proposed 60 years earlier that the who proposed 60 years earlier that the Earth rotated and revolved with other Earth rotated and revolved with other

planets around a stationary sun. planets around a stationary sun.

Copernicus was a Polish astronomer Copernicus was a Polish astronomer who proposed 60 years earlier that the who proposed 60 years earlier that the Earth rotated and revolved with other Earth rotated and revolved with other

planets around a stationary sun. planets around a stationary sun.

This was a very This was a very controversial controversial

position and went position and went against the against the

teachings of the teachings of the Catholic Church. Catholic Church.

This was a very This was a very controversial controversial

position and went position and went against the against the

teachings of the teachings of the Catholic Church. Catholic Church. Kepler liked the Kepler liked the

theory so much that theory so much that he gave up the idea he gave up the idea

of becoming a of becoming a minister. minister.

Kepler liked the Kepler liked the theory so much that theory so much that he gave up the idea he gave up the idea

of becoming a of becoming a minister. minister.


In his late In his late 20s, Kepler 20s, Kepler

left his left his teaching teaching

position in position in Graz and Graz and moved to moved to Prague to Prague to work with work with

with with renowned renowned

Danish Danish astronomer, astronomer, Tycho Brahe.Tycho Brahe.

In his late In his late 20s, Kepler 20s, Kepler

left his left his teaching teaching

position in position in Graz and Graz and moved to moved to Prague to Prague to work with work with

with with renowned renowned

Danish Danish astronomer, astronomer, Tycho Brahe.Tycho Brahe.

* Tubingen* Tubingen

Prague *Prague *

* * GrazGraz


At 30, Kepler At 30, Kepler became the became the

Imperial Imperial Mathematician Mathematician

when Tycho died.when Tycho died.

At 30, Kepler At 30, Kepler became the became the

Imperial Imperial Mathematician Mathematician

when Tycho died.when Tycho died.Using Tycho’s Using Tycho’s data, Kepler data, Kepler

discovered that discovered that the orbit of Mars the orbit of Mars

was an ellipse was an ellipse (instead of a (instead of a

circle), leading to circle), leading to the publication of the publication of his first his first two laws two laws

of planetary of planetary motionmotion..

Using Tycho’s Using Tycho’s data, Kepler data, Kepler

discovered that discovered that the orbit of Mars the orbit of Mars

was an ellipse was an ellipse (instead of a (instead of a

circle), leading to circle), leading to the publication of the publication of his first his first two laws two laws

of planetary of planetary motionmotion..

Tycho BraheTycho Brahe


Planets move in ellipses with the Planets move in ellipses with the Sun at one focus.Sun at one focus.

Planets move in ellipses with the Planets move in ellipses with the Sun at one focus.Sun at one focus.


The radius describes equal areas The radius describes equal areas in equal times.in equal times.

The radius describes equal areas The radius describes equal areas in equal times.in equal times.

This means that…This means that…This means that…This means that…


……the object on the elliptical orbit the object on the elliptical orbit moves quickly when the radius is moves quickly when the radius is short and slowly when the radius short and slowly when the radius

is long.is long.

……the object on the elliptical orbit the object on the elliptical orbit moves quickly when the radius is moves quickly when the radius is short and slowly when the radius short and slowly when the radius

is long.is long.The object on the circular orbit The object on the circular orbit

moves uniformly.moves uniformly.

The object on the circular orbit The object on the circular orbit moves uniformly.moves uniformly.



first to explain the process of vision by first to explain the process of vision by refractionrefraction

first to explain the process of vision by first to explain the process of vision by refractionrefraction

first to formulate eyeglasses for near first to formulate eyeglasses for near and farsightednessand farsightedness

first to formulate eyeglasses for near first to formulate eyeglasses for near and farsightednessand farsightedness

first to explain how both eyes are used first to explain how both eyes are used for depth perceptionfor depth perception

first to explain how both eyes are used first to explain how both eyes are used for depth perceptionfor depth perception

first to investigate how pictures are first to investigate how pictures are made with a pin hole cameramade with a pin hole camera

first to investigate how pictures are first to investigate how pictures are made with a pin hole cameramade with a pin hole camera


mathematically described the close mathematically described the close packing of equal spheres, which packing of equal spheres, which

explained the shape of the cells in a explained the shape of the cells in a honeycombhoneycomb

mathematically described the close mathematically described the close packing of equal spheres, which packing of equal spheres, which

explained the shape of the cells in a explained the shape of the cells in a honeycombhoneycomb

discovered 2 new regular polydradiscovered 2 new regular polydradiscovered 2 new regular polydradiscovered 2 new regular polydra

first to explain how a telescope worksfirst to explain how a telescope worksfirst to explain how a telescope worksfirst to explain how a telescope works

first to explain that tides are caused by first to explain that tides are caused by the moonthe moon

first to explain that tides are caused by first to explain that tides are caused by the moonthe moon

first to derive the birth year of Christ first to derive the birth year of Christ which is now used universallywhich is now used universally

first to derive the birth year of Christ first to derive the birth year of Christ which is now used universallywhich is now used universally


Koch, David. 2004. Johannes Kepler: His Life, His Laws and Times.

Available Online. http://www.kepler.arc.nasa.gov/johannes.html

Works CitedWorks CitedWorks CitedWorks Cited

Kepler’s Laws. http://surendranath.tripod.com/Kepler/KeplersLaws.htm

Museum of the History of Science. Available Online. http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/tycho/catfm.htm?image2a

Documents

Discoverer of planetary motion. © 2006 Plano ISD, Plano, TX/Klein ISD 2007 Kepler was born prematurely in 1571 in Weil Der Stadt, Wurtennberg. His parents