The Scientific Revolution began in the 17th century and marked a shift from the medieval worldview to a new scientific method. Key developments included Copernicus proposing a heliocentric solar system, Galileo providing evidence for it through telescope observations, and Kepler discovering the laws of planetary motion. Newton then published laws of motion and universal gravitation, explaining the motions of the heavens. This transition required challenging old assumptions through experimentation and reason, establishing science as the new path to understanding the natural world.

1. The Scientific Revolution
A New World View

2. What Was the Scientific
Revolution?
 A revolution in human
understanding and
knowledge about the
physical universe
 17th Century
 Began w/ Kepler, Galileo
 Ended w/ Newton

3. “Science” Before the SR
 Based on reasoning
 Experimental
method or
observation - not
used
 Medieval Science
 Alchemy
 Astrology

4. Creating a New Worldview
 Hallmarks of SR
 Questioning of old knowledge &
assumptions
 Gradual replacement of religious &
superstitious presumptions
 Gradual rise of science & reason

5. Factors Leading to SR
 Rise of universities
 Renaissance
 Reformation
 Exploration

6. Astronomy & Physics
 Work with the person next to you and
diagram the Universe as we know it
today
 Be as accurate as possible
 You have 2 minutes…

7. How does
your diagram
differ?

8. Astronomy & Physics
 Prior to SR - Ptolemaic System
prevailed
 Geocentric Universe
 Earth is at center
 Remains fixed while the heavens move
around it

10. Nicolaus Copernicus
 1473-1543
 Polish
 Suggested the universe
was heliocentric

11. Copernicus’ Heliocentric
Universe
 Sun centered
 Planets revolved around sun
 Moon, around Earth
 Earth rotated on an
axis

12. Copernican Universe
 Afraid of the Catholic Church
 Published theory
on his deathbed

13. Tycho Brahe
 1546-1601
 Danish
mathematician
 More accurate
positioning of
planets

14. Johannes Kepler
 1571-1630
 German mathematician
 Proved Copernican theory
via math
 Kepler’s First Law
 Earth orbits in an elliptical
(egg-shaped) pattern, not
circular like Copernicus
suggested

15. Galileo Galilei
 1564-1642
 Italian mathematician
 First telescope
 Went public with
heliocentrism

16. Science on Trial
 Catholic Church - not
happy
 Arrested by Inquisition
 Tried
 Condemned
 Forced to recant
Copernican views
 House arrest

17. Sir Isaac Newton
 1642-1727
 British mathematician
 Laws of motion

18. Universal Law of Gravity
 Explains why planets continue an
elliptical orbit around sun
 Mathematical in nature
 States that every object in the
universe is attracted to every other
object by a force called gravity

19. Medicine
 Better
understanding of
anatomy &
physiology
 Microscope invented

20. Chemistry
 Robert Boyle
 Boyle’s Law (properties of
gasses)
 Antoine Lavoisier
 Father of modern chemistry
 Invented system for naming
chemical elements still used
today (periodic table)

21. Rationalism
 Reason, not tradition, is
the source of all
knowledge
 René Descartes (1596-
1650)
 French philosopher &
mathematician
 Cogito, ergo sum (“I
think, therefore I am”)
 Deductive reasoning
(general specific)

22. Empiricism
 The belief that experience is the only
true source of knowledge
 Huge shift toward empiricism in the SR
 Led to development of the Scientific
Method

23. Scientific Method
 Francis Bacon (1561-1627)
 English philosopher &
empiricist
 Systematic procedure for
collecting & analyzing
evidence
 Inductive reasoning
(specific general)

24. Homework: Women of the SR
 Read page 307 in your
textbook
 Write, in your notes, the
field of study & major
accomplishment(s) of:
 Margaret Cavendish
 Maria Winkelmann
Margaret Cavendish

26. Homework
 Read “Opposing Viewpoints: Faith vs.
Science” on pg. 305
 Answer the DBQs using BOTH:
 Facts from class
 The primary sources given