Chapter 16 Sec 1 – Chapter 20 Sec 2 & 4

Scientific Revolution & the Enlightenment

Scientific Revolution

Medieval ViewsLittle difference between science and magic Truth based upon Greek & Roman thought and the

Bible.However, the Bible primary authority.

European scholars start to question ideas of ancient thinkers & the church by observing nature for themselves.Roger Bacon one of the first

Geocentric TheoryConcept that earth is the center of

the universeMoon, Sun and planets all moved in

perfect circular patterns around earth

Fixed stars with the Heaven beyondBased on common sense

observationsGod placed the earth in the center

for life to take place

New Way of ThoughtScientific Revolution: A new way of

thinking about the natural world.Based upon observations of the natural

world and willingness to question beliefs.

Observation and experimental data. Need better tools and techniques.

Barometer, telescope, thermometerUsed Mathematics and related

experiments to verify resultsBecomes Scientific Method

Reasons for…. New Way of thoughtImpact of the Crusades

Exposed Europe to Muslim advancesAstronomy, Physics, and Mathematics

Impact of ExplorationNew discoveries = possibility of new truths

Printing Press helps spread

challenging ideas

Results….. Of New Way of thought

Need for better instrumentsNavigation and geographic measurements.Scientific instruments

Observations that did not agree with ancient beliefs

Desire to know more than what seemed to be the “limit”

Heliocentric TheorySun-centered theory - Heliocentric

Nicolaus Copernicus- AstronomerOld Greek theory – Sun is the center.After 25 years observation determines stars and

planets revolve around the sun.Contradicted religious views – So discovery was not

published until much later – 1543.

Heliocentric TheoryJohannes Kepler- Mathematician

Provided proof that Copernicus was correct. Mathematical laws govern the movements of the

planets in an elliptical orbit, not in circles.Not easily accepted, God created universe

Heliocentric TheoryGalileo : Made many significant

advances for scienceBuilt a better telescope

to better observe far off objectsDetermined that not all heavenly objects

revolved around the earth.Church asked him not to defend idea that

earth moves around the sun.Later brought before Roman Inquisition

‘vehemently’ suspect of heresyImprisoned, later changed to house arrest

Cleared by the Vatican in 1992

Church ConflictContradicted the bible

Psalm 93:1, 96:10, & 1 Chronicles 16:30"the world is firmly established, it cannot be moved."

Psalm 104:5 "the LORD set the earth on its foundations; it can never

be moved." Ecclesiastes 1:5

"And the sun rises and sets and returns to its place" etc.

If people believed the church could be wrong about the nature of the universe, they could question other church teachings as well.Could lose membersCould lose funds

GalileoAdvances of Galileo:

Law of pendulumeach swing takes same amount of time

Falling objects accelerate at a fixed & predictable rateTelescope

3x magnificationLater up to 32x magnification

Discovered moons orbiting JupiterRings around SaturnObserved sunspotsObserved mountains and craters on moonObserved the Milky Way

Scientific Method

Question – Based on observation

Hypothesis – Unproved assumptionTest Hypothesis – Experiment/DataAnalyze/Interpret –Draw Conclusion

Confirm/Disprove Hypothesis

A logical procedure for gathering and testing ideas

Scientific Method

Francis BaconUsed science to generate a practical knowledge

to improve people’s livesEmpiricism

use experiments or observational data to find conclusions

Urged other scientists to experiment as wellDied as a result of one of his experiments

Attempt to use snow to preserve meatCame down ill after stuffing a bird with snow

Scientific MethodRene Descartes

Relied on mathematics and logicUsed strict reasoning to arrive at other

basic truthsObservation, experimentation, with

general laws expressed mathematically will explain the natural world.

Everything should be doubted until proved by reasonI think, therefore I am.The only thing know for certain was self-existence

Developed analytical geometry.

Mathematics: The basis of understanding and explaining the natural world

Scientific Advancements

Scientific InstrumentsNew tools = precise observations

and measurementsMicroscope

Invented by Zacharias Janssen (Dutch, 1590)

Bacteria observed in 1670Antoni van Leeuwenhoek - Dutch

Red blood cells observedLife did not spawn spontaneously

(maggots, etc)

Scientific Advancements

BarometerInvented by Torricelli (1643)

Galileo’s studentMeasures atmospheric pressureUsed to predict weather changes

ThermometerGabriel Fahrenheit (1714, Dutch)

made the first mercury thermometerWater freezes at 32*, boils at 212*

Anders Celsius (1742, Swede)created another scale for the mercury

thermometerWater freezes at 0*, boils at 100*

Scientific AdvancementsDissection:

Middle AgesHuman anatomy based upon Greek

physician GalenGalen based his thoughts upon the

anatomy of animals (pigs)Vesalius (Flemish) :

Pioneered the study of Anatomydissected human corpses, wrote seven

volume work ‘On the Fabric of the Human Body ‘

Detailed drawings of human organs, bones and muscle and how they work together in the body.

Proved that many of Galen’s assumptions were wrong.

Scientific AdvancementsWilliam Harvey :

showed that the heart acted as a pump to circulate blood

described the function of blood vessels.

Wrote “On the Motion of the Heart and Blood in Animals.”

Edward Jenner : introduced vaccination for small-

pox using cow-poxPractice had previously existed in Asia

Cow Pock - 1802

Scientific AdvancementsElements:

AristotleFour elements: earth, air, fire, and water

Robert BoyleFounder of modern ChemistryUsed Scientific Method Challenged Aristotle’s ideaMatter made up of smaller particles joined together in

different ways.Boyle’s Law – Explains how the volume, temperature and

pressure of gas affect each otherMost important contribution to chemistry

Joseph Priestley and Antoine LavoisierSeparated gas from air – Gas named oxygen.

Notable Scientists

Gottfried LiebnitzDeveloped calculus – but independently of Newton.Invented the Binary System

Basis for all computer architecturesPhilosophy

Optimism – Idea that God created the best possible world and always chooses the best

Notable Scientists Isaac Newton:

Explained laws of motion All physical objects were affected equally by the same forces Disproved Aristotle’s idea that one set of physical laws

governed the earth and another set governed the rest of the universe

Law of universal gravitation Every object in the universe attracts every other object The degree of attraction depends on the mass/distance of the

objects Wrote Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy

(Principia) one of the most important scientific books ever written Gravitation and laws of motion

Universe is a giant clock All the parts work together perfected in a way that could be

expressed mathematically Believed that God was the creator of this orderly universe and

the clock-maker that set everything into motion