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Inferior Ptolemaic Model
written by Todd Timberlake
The Ejs Inferior Ptolemaic model illustrates Ptolemy's orbit for a inferior planet. The model consists of a deferent circle, centered on a point some distance from Earth (at the eccentric point). Attached to this deferent is the center of another circle, the epicycle. The center of the epicycle moves around the deferent with constant angular speed as seen from the equant point, which is exactly opposite the center of the deferent from Earth (so the center of the epicycle does not move at constant speed along the deferent). The planet moves along the epicycle at constant speed. This model is capable of reproducing retrograde motion and variations in the planet's brightness. It can also reproduce variations in the apparent size and spacing of the retrograde arcs. In this simulation the planet is assumed to move in the plane of the ecliptic, so its latitude is always zero. You can modify this simulation if you have Ejs installed by right-clicking within the plot and selecting "Open Ejs Model" from the pop-up menu item.

Ejs Inferior Ptolemaic model was created using the Easy Java Simulations  (Ejs) modeling tool.  It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive.   Double clicking the ejs_astronomy_InferiorPtolemaic.jar file will run the program if  Java is installed.  Ejs is a part of the Open Source Physics Project and is designed to make it easier to access, modify, and generate computer models.  Additional Ejs models for astronomy are available.  They can be found by searching ComPADRE for  Open Source Physics, OSP, or Ejs.

Please note that this resource requires at least version 1.5 of Java (JRE).
1 supplemental document is available
1 source code document is available
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Astronomy
- Astronomy Education
= Curricula
- Solar System
= Earth
= Mercury
= Venus
- Lower Undergraduate
- Middle School
- High School
- Instructional Material
= Interactive Simulation
Intended Users Formats Ratings
- Educators
- Learners
- General Publics
- application/java
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Access Rights:
Free access
License:
This material is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license.
Rights Holder:
Todd Timberlake
Keywords:
EJS, Easy Java Simulations, OSP, Open Source Physics, Ptolemaic, Ptolemy, inferior
Record Cloner:
Metadata instance created August 18, 2009 by Mario Belloni
Record Updated:
December 2, 2021 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update
when Cataloged:
August 18, 2009
Other Collections:

ComPADRE is beta testing Citation Styles!

Record Link
AIP Format
T. Timberlake, Computer Program INFERIOR PTOLEMAIC MODEL, Version 1.0 (2009), WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9380&DocID=1280).
AJP/PRST-PER
T. Timberlake, Computer Program INFERIOR PTOLEMAIC MODEL, Version 1.0 (2009), <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9380&DocID=1280>.
APA Format
Timberlake, T. (2009). Inferior Ptolemaic Model (Version 1.0) [Computer software]. Retrieved November 5, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9380&DocID=1280
Chicago Format
Timberlake, Todd. "Inferior Ptolemaic Model." Version 1.0. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9380&DocID=1280 (accessed 5 November 2024).
MLA Format
Timberlake, Todd. Inferior Ptolemaic Model. Vers. 1.0. Computer software. 2009. Java (JRE) 1.5. 5 Nov. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9380&DocID=1280>.
BibTeX Export Format
@misc{ Author = "Todd Timberlake", Title = {Inferior Ptolemaic Model}, Month = {August}, Year = {2009} }
Refer Export Format

%A Todd Timberlake %T Inferior Ptolemaic Model %D August 18, 2009 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9380&DocID=1280 %O 1.0 %O application/java

EndNote Export Format

%0 Computer Program %A Timberlake, Todd %D August 18, 2009 %T Inferior Ptolemaic Model %7 1.0 %8 August 18, 2009 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9380&DocID=1280


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The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual.

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Inferior Ptolemaic Model:

Is Based On Easy Java Simulations Modeling and Authoring Tool

The Easy Java Simulations Modeling and Authoring Tool is needed to explore the computational model used in the EJS Inferior Ptolemaic Model.

relation by Mario Belloni

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