Philosophers and Scientific Thought
Why did John Philoponus reject the idea that the earth has always existed?
He knew that the Bible says that the earth has a beginning.
Which object is truly a projectile: a powered rocket still firing upward, or a rock that has been thrown into the air?
A rock that has been thrown into the air.
Can a flat mirror focus sunlight to a single focal point? Why or why not?
No. A flat mirror reflects light evenly and cannot focus light to a single point.
How did John Philoponus argue against the belief that the earth is eternal?
He said that an eternal earth would need an infinite number of plants and animals, and infinite numbers are impossible.
What effect does the substance or space an object moves through have on its motion?
It resists the object’s motion.
Is a magnifying glass made from flat glass or curved glass?
A magnifying glass is made from curved glass.
Why is it not surprising that someone important in the early Christian church helped develop ideas similar to the modern scientific method?
Because God used order, logic, and reason to create the universe, which science uses to understand it.
Which is harder to overcome: air resistance or water drag?
Water drag is harder to overcome.
Fill in the blank: A circle of glass bends incoming light so that it comes together at one point called the
________ ________.
focal point
How does the sun heat the earth?
The sun heats the earth through its light (radiation), not by its heat.
What is combustion?
The chemical process of burning.
What is the basic law of magnetism?
Like poles repel each other, and opposite poles attract each other.
What did Roger Bacon believe was the best way to learn about the natural world?
He didn't think you could believe anything unless it was confirmed by experience.
Besides fuel, what else is required for combustion to occur?
Oxygen (and usually an ignition source to begin the process).
What must a magnet do to a piece of metal before it can attract that metal?
It must first make the piece of metal a magnet.