Unit 2: The Enlightenment

Section 1: The Scientific Revolution

Section 1: The Scientific Revolution Objectives

1. To list the circumstances that led to the Scientific Revolution

2. To summarize the development of the heliocentric theory and explain why it led to conflict

3. To describe the scientific method and show how Bacon and Descrates advanced it

4. To explain Newton’s law of gravity

5. To describe the importance of the scientific method in different fields

The Renaissance and Reformation caused people to question beliefs they held for hundreds of years Few questioned scientific ideas or the

material world, instead they accepted the beliefs of the church or the ancient scholars. Few European scholars observed nature for themselves.

The geocentric model of the universe was developed by Aristotle and supported by Greek astronomer Ptolemy Place earth in the center of the universe with

all other objects circling the earth View was supported by the church, which

believed God placed earth at the center

The scientific revolution began in the mid-1500’s and began to questions some of the traditionally held beliefs through careful observation. Scientific Revolution: New way of thinking about the natural world The Crusades had brought back with them

many ancient works from both Greece, Rome and also Muslim scholars

The expansion of trade and discovery forced Europeans to think outside of their traditionally held beliefs The invention of the printing press helped

spread challenging ideas among European thinkers

They also discovered that the ancient philosophers often did not agree with each other.

European explorers researched astronomy and mathematics in more depth due to a need for better instruments for travel

In 5-6 sentences, describe the events that led to the Scientific Revolution. Use the slides we have just gone over as a guide to

help you answer this question.

Things to think about:-Renaissance-Reformation-Exploration

In the 1500’s, Nicolaus Copernicus began to study an old Greek idea of a heliocentric universe or sun centered universe Spent 25 years researching, but waited till’

near his death before publishing his ideas out of fear of being criticized.

He also knew that most scholars and clergy would reject his theory because it contradicted their religious views.

Tycho Brahe carefully recorded planetary movement for years collecting mass amounts of accurate data

His assistant Johannes Kepler expanded on Brahe and Copernicus’ work and looked at the orbital ellipses (not perfect circles) that planets make around the sun. He demonstrated mathematically that planets revolve around the sun.

In 3-4 Sentences explain the developments of the Heliocentric theory. How was it different than the Geocentric Theory? Why was it controversial? How was it finally proven?

Galileo Galilei published new theories in science No matter their weight, objects fall at a fixed

and predictable rate The law of pendulum states that an object

swings at the same rate as it approaches its stopping point

Used a telescope to closely examine planetary surfaces, spots on the sun, moons rough surface

Galileo was sentenced to house arrest for contradicting the ideas of the church

The scientific method resulted from this new approach to science: gathering and testing ideas First it begins with a problem or question Then a hypothesis as to what is believed will

happen Then a test to analyze the hypothesis Then analyses and interpret data to reach a

new conclusion. This will either confirm or disprove the hypothesis.

Francis Bacon and Rene Descartes were two thinkers who rejected old assumptions and teachings. They stressed the belief in logic and reason is scientific theory.

Descartes: everything should be doubted until proved by reason, believed that medieval scholars were too vague, but that instead of experimentation, one should use mathematics and logic to reach conclusions

Bacon: Criticized medieval scholars for using vague theories to explain conclusions, believed that through experimentation a more accurate conclusion is reached

In 3-4 sentences explain the Scientific Method and how Descartes and Bacon helped to advance it.

In 1687, Newton published his book on the laws of universal gravitation, every object in the universe attracts every other objects, the degree of attraction depends on the objects size and distance between other objects

In 3 sentences explain Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation.

In 1590, Dutch lens maker, Zacharias Janssen invented the first microscope used to: Observe bacteria swimming in teeth. See red blood cells. They were also able to prove the creation of

life for insects like grubs and maggots

In 1714, Gabriel Fahrenheit developed the first thermometer to use mercury in glass. (water freezes 32)

In 1742, Anders Celsius created another scale for the mercury thermometer. (water freezes at 0 degrees)

New scientific discoveries resulted from experiments in anatomy Andreas Vesalius published a book with

detailed drawings of human organs, bones, and muscles

Edward Jenner produced the first vaccine for smallpox

How did the Scientific Method change the fields ofScience, anatomy, and medicine? Explain in 3-4 sentences.