Multiple choice

Which astronomical theory did the ancient Indians develop?

  1. the moon’s gravitational pull on Earth

  2. the Sun’s revolution around Earth

  3. the moon’s influence on the shape of Earth’s surface

  4. the blocking of the Sun’s light during a solar eclipse
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Ancient Indian astronomers, most notably Aryabhata in the 5th century CE, scientifically explained that solar eclipses occur when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking the Sun's light. This replaced mythological explanations with mathematical and observational astronomy.

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