Scientific Breakthroughs Chapter 17: Section 1: Day 2 Scientific Breakthroughs

Scientific Breakthroughs Main Idea: Scientific discoveries expanded knowledge about the universe and the human body. Astronomers of the Middle Ages constructed a model of the universe called the Ptolemaic system after the astronomer Ptolemy. The Ptolemaic system is geocentric because it places Earth at the center of the universe. During the Scientific Revolution, Nicolaus Copernicus offered the heliocentric theory, which put the sun at the center of the universe.

Scientific Breakthroughs Johannes Kepler added to this theory by confirming the central position of the sun and adding information about the elliptical orbits of the planets. Galileo Galilei used a telescope to observe mountains on the moon, sun spots, and new moons in the heavens. His ideas were revolutionary and brought him into conflict with the Catholic Church. Isaac Newton explained how the planets continually orbit the sun. Central to his argument was the universal law of gravitation. Newton’s ideas created a new picture of the universe. He is often considered the greatest genius of the Scientific Revolution.

Scientific Breakthroughs Breakthroughs in medicine occurred as scientists learned about human anatomy from dissections. New ideas about organs and blood flow replaced older fallacious understandings. In chemistry, Robert Boyle conducted controlled experiments on the properties of gases. Antoine Lavoisier invented a system for naming chemical elements that is still used today.