Scientific Revolution Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What were medieval scientists known as?

Natural philosophers

Who took an interest in the world around them in the Middle Ages?

Educated Europeans

Instead of making observations on the natural world, what did natural philosophers rely on?

A few ancient authorities such as Aristotle for their scientific knowledge

What languages did Renaissance humanists master?

Latin and Greek Signup and view all the answers

What did the writings of Archimedes, Plato, and Ptolemy make obvious?

That people disagreed with Aristotle and other accepted medieval authorities Signup and view all the answers

What played a key role in the scientific achievements of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries?

Mathematics Signup and view all the answers

Who was among the first to use letters to represent unknown quantities?

Francois Viete of France Signup and view all the answers

Who introduced the decimal system?

Simon Stevin of Flanders Signup and view all the answers

Who invented a table of logarithms?

John Napier of Scotland Signup and view all the answers

What did the works of Stevin and Napier do?

They made it easier to make the calculations critical to math problems Signup and view all the answers

How was the study of mathematics promoted in the Renaissance?

By rediscovery of works of ancient mathematicians Signup and view all the answers

Who were the four great mathematicians of the Scientific Revolution?

Copernicus, Kepler, Galilei, Newton Signup and view all the answers

What did these mathematicians believe?

The secrets of nature were hidden in the language of mathematics Signup and view all the answers

How did mathematicians develop new theories that created the foundation for the Scientific Revolution?

By studying and sometimes discarding the ideas of ancient mathematicians Signup and view all the answers

What made it easier for scientists to demonstrate the proof of abstract theories with clear, logical evidence?

Advances in mathematics like algebra, geometry, and trigonometry Signup and view all the answers

What led to a new conception of the universe?

Discoveries in astronomy Signup and view all the answers

Besides math and astronomy, what other achievements were made during the Scientific Revolution?

Advances in medicine and the field of chemistry Signup and view all the answers

Who was the greatest astronomer of antiquity?

Ptolemy Signup and view all the answers

What did philosophers of the Middle Ages use to construct a model of the universe?

The ideas of Ptolemy, Aristotle, and Christianity Signup and view all the answers

What does geocentric mean?

Earth is the center of the universe Signup and view all the answers

How is the universe seen in the Ptolemaic system?

It is a series of concentric spheres around Earth Signup and view all the answers

What did Ptolemy see planets as?

Heavenly bodies or orbs of light Signup and view all the answers

What is at the very end of the Ptolemaic universe?

God and heaven Signup and view all the answers

What does heliocentric mean?

The sun is at the center of the universe Signup and view all the answers

What was Copernicus's book called?

On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres Signup and view all the answers

What did Copernicus believe?

In a heliocentric universe; the planets revolved around the sun and the moon around Earth Signup and view all the answers

How did Copernicus explain the apparent rotation of the Sun around the Earth?

The rotation of Earth on its axis on its journey around the sun Signup and view all the answers

After Copernicus, who took the next step in destroying the Ptolemaic system?

Johannes Kepler Signup and view all the answers

What did Kepler believe that was different from Copernicus?

He believed that planets traveled in an elliptical orbit Signup and view all the answers

What was this finding called?

Kepler's First Law Signup and view all the answers

Who discovered what planets were made of?

Galileo Galilei Signup and view all the answers

What did Galileo teach?

Mathematics Signup and view all the answers

Who was the first European to make observations through a telescope?

Galileo Signup and view all the answers

What discoveries did Galileo make with his telescope?

Planets were made of material substance like Earth was Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Medieval Knowledge and Transition

Medieval scientists, known as natural philosophers, relied on ancient authorities like Aristotle rather than direct observations.
Educated Europeans began taking an interest in the natural world during the Middle Ages.

Renaissance Humanism

Renaissance humanists mastered Latin and Greek, enabling access to works by Archimedes, Plato, and Ptolemy.
The writings of these figures contradicted Aristotle and other accepted medieval authorities, leading to new scientific ideas.

Mathematical Advances

Mathematics played a critical role in scientific advancements during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
Francois Viete introduced letters to represent unknown quantities, laying the groundwork for modern algebra and trigonometry.
Simon Stevin introduced the decimal system, and John Napier invented a table of logarithms, facilitating complex calculations.

New Theories and Discoveries

The study of mathematics flourished due to the rediscovery of ancient mathematicians' works, fostering new theories.
Four great mathematicians of the Scientific Revolution—Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, and Newton—believed that nature's secrets were expressed mathematically.

Astronomy and the Universe

Discoveries in astronomy led to a radical new conception of the universe, moving towards heliocentrism.
The Ptolemaic System, based on Ptolemy and Aristotle's concepts combined with Christianity, depicted the Earth at the universe's center (geocentric).

Ptolemaic Model

In the Ptolemaic universe, planets were seen as heavenly orbs, with concentric spheres surrounding Earth, capped by God and heaven.
The "prime mover" was responsible for motion in this model.

Copernican Revolution

Copernicus's work, "On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres," advocated for a heliocentric model, claiming planets revolved around the sun.
Copernicus explained the perceived motion of the sun as a result of Earth rotating on its axis.

Kepler and His Laws

Johannes Kepler built upon Copernicus's theories by establishing Kepler's First Law, stating that planets travel in elliptical orbits, not perfect circles.

Galileo's Contributions

Galileo Galilei pioneered the use of the telescope to observe celestial bodies, discovering that they were made of material substance.
He taught mathematics and made significant discoveries about the makeup of planets, revealing mountains and valleys similar to Earth.

Scientific Advancements Beyond Astronomy

The Scientific Revolution also brought notable achievements in medicine and chemistry, expanding the scope of scientific inquiry beyond mathematics and astronomy.

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Description

Test your knowledge about the Scientific Revolution with this set of flashcards. Explore the shift in thinking from medieval natural philosophy to a more observation-based understanding of science. Perfect for students looking to strengthen their grasp of this transformative period in history.