Scientific Method
Before the Scientific Revolution, how did scholars decide what was true and false?
Before 1500, most scholars decided what was true or false in two ways: they read the Bible and they read ancient Greek and Roman writers.
People read the Bible and read ancient Greek and Roman writers.
HINT: Geo=Earth Centric= center
The theory that puts Earth at the center of the universe and the sun and planets revolve around it.
Whose theory of the universe did Galieo support?
HINT: Galileo supported heliocentric theory.
Galileo supported Copernicus' theory of a sun-centered universe.
What is the Scientific Method?
During the 1500s and 1600s, a new way of learning about the natural world developed. Scientists based their new way of doing things on a few important steps. The called these steps the Scientific Method. At the heard of the Scientific Method is the experiment.
The Scientific Method is a series of steps taken to conduct an experiment or carefully control a test.
What is heliocentric theory?
HINT: helio=sun centric= center
The theory that puts the sun at the center of the universe and the planets revolve around it.
How did Galileo conclude that Copernicus was correct about heliocentric theory?
Galileo used the telescope to look at the heavens. He saw the rough surface of the moon and that the moon reflected light from the sun. He discovered the dark spots on the sun and the four moons of Jupiter. From his observations, Galileo concluded that Copernicus was right. The earth was not the center of the universe; the sun was.
Galileo used the telescope to prove Copernicus correct.
Who was the Englishman who worked out the 5 steps of the scientific method?
In the 1620s, Francis Bacon, worked out the 5 steps of the scientific method.
Francis Bacon
Which theory did Copernicus support?
In 1543, he published a book that said that the sun was the center of the universe.
Heliocentric theory
Why did the Catholic Church oppose heliocentric theory?
Many scholars and church officials refused to accept Galileo's discoveries. The Catholic Church said that this theory challenged the Bible. The church even censored Copernicus' work. They said that people could not read it.
The Catholic Church felt that heliocentrism challenged the Bible. They felt that it challenged the Christian idea that God would have put Earth and humans at the center.
Why is the Scientific Method so important?
When scientists experiment, they carefully control a test. The test helps them discover truth for themselves.
People no longer relied on authorities to say something is true or false. They could find out truths for themselves.
What did Kepler discover about the shape of a planet's orbit around the sun?
Using mathematics, Kepler even showed the shape of a planet's orbit around the sun. He proved that a planet did not orbit in a circle. It orbited in an ellipse which is the shape of an egg.
Why was Galileo put on trial?
In 1632, he published a book to debate the theories of the universe. Church authorities said Galileo's book was an attack on Catholic teachings and put him on trial for heresy. He was forced to admit he was wrong. He was ordered to stop writing about the theory of Copernicus.
He was accused of heresy for writing about heliocentric theory.
What is the hypothesis?
The hypothesis is an educated guess based on what a scientist already knows.
The hypothesis is an educated guess based on what a scientist already knows.
Whose theories did Copernicus and Kepler disprove?
Copernicus did not accept Ptolemy's theory. His theory was a simple explanation for what he saw happening in the skies. Kepler proved that a planet did not orbit in a circle. It orbited in an ellipse, which is the shape of an egg. With this discovery, Kepler proved Aristotle wrong too. Almost 1,900 years before, Aristotle had written that all movement in the heavens had to be in a circle. A circle is perfect, and the heavens were a perfect place.
Copernicus and Kepler proved Aristotle and Ptolemy wrong.
What was Galileo's punishment for heresy?
Galileo was forced to recant his views and sentenced to house arrest until his death.