The Scientific Revolution

What is a Revolution? A Revolution is a complete change, or an overthrow of a government, a social system, a way of thinking, etc.

Scientific Revolution 1500’s & 1600’s People began to make conclusions based on experimentation and observation. The Scientific Revolution

Ptolemy ( CE) - taught that the Earth was the center of the universe. Known as the geocentric theory Supported by the Church Pre-Scientific Revolution…

Ptolemy’s geocentric model of the solar system: 1.Earth 2.Moon 3.Mercury 4.Venus 5.Sun 6.Mars 7.Jupiter 8.Saturn Notice, the Earth is first, and not the sun, as it should be.

Nicolaus Copernicus Copernicus was a Polish astronomer who studied in Italy. Copernicus made two conclusions: 1.The universe is heliocentric, or sun-centered. 2.The Earth is merely one of several planets revolving around the sun.

Nicolaus Copernicus Copernicus’ model of the solar system: 1.Sun 2.Moon 3.Mercury 4.Venus 5.Earth 6.Mars 7.Jupiter 8.Saturn Notice, the sun is first, not the Earth, as Ptolemy believed.

Nicolaus Copernicus Copernicus came to these conclusions using mathematical formulas. The Copernican conception of the universe marked the start of modern science and astronomy.

The Copernican Heliocentric Model

Most scholars rejected his theory because it went against Ptolemy, the Church. Basically the norm. Reaction to Copernicus

Then, in the late 1500s, the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe provided evidence that supported Copernicus’ heliocentric theory. Brahe set up an astronomical observatory. Tycho Brahe Every night for years he carefully observed the sky, accumulating data about the movement of the stars and planets.

After Brahe’s death, his assistant, the German astronomer and mathematician Johannes Kepler, used Brahe’s data to calculate the orbits of the planets revolving around the sun. Kepler’s calculations supported Copernicus’ heliocentric theory. His calculations also showed that the planets moved in oval shaped orbits, and not perfect circles, as Ptolemy and Copernicus believed. Johannes Kepler Kepler’s finding help explain the paths followed by man-made satellites today.

Galileo Galilei Galileo Galilei- was an Italian astronomer Galileo assembled the first telescope

Galileo Galilei Galileo’s discoveries caused an uproar because Galileo was contradicting Ptolemy. When threatened with death before the Inquisition in 1633, Galileo recanted his beliefs, even though he knew the Earth moved. Put on house arrest. Not allowed to publish ideas.

The Scientific Method Scientific Method (1600’s)– method used to confirm findings and prove or disprove hypothesis. Scientists observed nature, made hypotheses, or educated guesses, and then tested these hypotheses through experiments.

1. State the problem 2. Collect information 3. Form a hypothesis 4. Test the hypothesis 5. Record & analyze data 6. State a conclusion 7. Repeat steps 1 – 6 The Scientific Method The scientific method set Europe on the road to rapid technological progress. Scientists soon discovered that the movements of bodies in nature closely followed what could be predicted by mathematics.