As the World Turns

We know the Earth rotates, but how do we know? When and how did it become reasonable to believe that the Earth rotates?

This book offers a historical account, from ancient Greek science to the theory of relativity and ultimately to videos taken from outer space, of how this widely known truth came to be. Using an accessible and entertaining narrative suitable for anyone interested in astronomy, physics, or the history of either, Kosso clarifies the use of evidence to prove that the Earth rotates, and deals with the tension between the claims that the Earth is absolutely in motion, yet all motion is relative. The book also explores the general nature of scientific evidence and method, and confronts challenges to science from outside the discipline.
Contents: PrefaceAbout the AuthorOn UncertaintyThe Ancient Perspective:To Save the PhenomenaAristotle's Standard ModelTinkering with the Standard ModelMoving the EarthThe Best of Both WorldsOn SkepticismThe Modern Perspective:The Two Chief World SystemsNew Astronomy and the Great MagnetRotational Dynamics and Absolute SpaceFoucault's PendulumThe Postmodern Perspective:Mach's PrincipleRelativityThe Extraterrestrial Perspective:The Final FrontierAll Things ConsideredTimeline of Important Events and Ideas, Evidence and Theories Regarding the Rotation of the Earth NotesBibliographyIndex
Readership: General public interested in the field of astronomy and physics.Astronomy;History;Earth Rotation;Copernicus;Relativity0Key Features:The focus is as much on how we know — the evidence and reasoning — as on what we know — the Earth rotates. It's about both science and methodThe evidence is presented in historical and scientific context, allowing evaluation of reasoning in the time it was doneThere is explicit and frequent discussion of the difference between relative and absolute motion and the relevance for the claim that the Earth moves