The Copernicus Crisis

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What concept did Copernicus propose in 1543 that challenged the Catholic Church's belief about the universe?

heliocentrism

What was the Catholic Church's reaction to the growing popularity of heliocentrism?

They tried to stomp it out in any way they could.

Who was Galileo and why was he a threat to the Catholic Church?

Galileo was a scientist who conducted experiments to prove heliocentrism, and he lived in close proximity to the Pope.

What did Galileo discover about the moon and the Milky Way?

He discovered that the moon was pocked with craters and mountains, and that the Milky Way was made of hundreds of millions of stars packed closely together. Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of Galileo's first scientific paper?

'The Starry Messenger.' Signup and view all the answers

What happened to Galileo after he published his book 'Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems'?

He was put on trial for heresy and sentenced to house arrest for the rest of his life. Signup and view all the answers

Why was Galileo put on trial?

He defended the heliocentric model of the universe and insulted the Pope by putting geocentric arguments in the mouth of a character named Simplicio. Signup and view all the answers

What did Galileo do to prove his theory about falling bodies?

Galileo conducted an experiment where he dropped two balls, one made of lead and the other made of cork, from the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Despite the lead ball being heavier, both balls hit the ground at the same time. Signup and view all the answers

How did Galileo's experiment differ from the common-sense notion about gravity?

Galileo's experiment separated weight as the only factor affecting the speed of falling objects, whereas the common-sense notion considered weight and shape as factors. Signup and view all the answers

What did Galileo observe through his telescope that supported the heliocentric theory?

Galileo observed the moons of Jupiter, which showed that not all heavenly bodies orbit the Earth. He also noticed that Venus went through phases, indicating that it orbited the sun, not the Earth. Signup and view all the answers