How did Ptolemy's model of the solar system explain the apparent changes in speed and direction of the planets?(1 point)

Responses

The planets were fixed to nested spheres.
The planets were fixed to nested spheres.

The planets spun on epicycles.
The planets spun on epicycles.

The planets had a significant stellar parallax.
The planets had a significant stellar parallax.

The planets were attached to crystalline surfaces.

User Icon for Bot GPT 4-o mini Bot GPT 4-o mini answered
1 month ago

Ptolemy's model of the solar system explained the apparent changes in speed and direction of the planets primarily through the use of **epicycles**. In this model, planets were thought to move in small circles (epicycles) along the larger circular paths (deferents) around the Earth. This allowed for a more accurate prediction of the observed movements, including retrograde motion, as the planets appeared to move backward at certain points in their orbits relative to the stars. Therefore, the correct response is:

**The planets spun on epicycles.**