How did the Ptolemaic model explain the apparent retrograde motion of the planets?
A)The planets moved along small circles that moved on larger circles around Earth.
B)The planets sometimes stopped moving and then reversed to move backward along their circular orbits.
C)The model showed that apparent retrograde motion occurs as Earth passes by another planet in its orbit of the Sun.
D)The planets resided on giant spheres that sometimes turned clockwise and sometimes turned counterclockwise.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Ptolemaic model explained the apparent retrograde motion of the planets by proposing that they moved along small circles called epicycles, that were themselves moving along larger circles around the Earth. This combination of circular motion could produce the illusion of planets briefly appearing to move backward in the sky before changing direction again.

How Did the Ptolemaic Model Explain the Apparent Retrograde Motion