Scientific and Industrial Revolution Word List

Copernicus: ( )- Polish astronomer who concluded that the Earth and planets revolve around the sun.

Galileo ( )- Late renaissance Italian mathematician, scientist, and astronomer. His work in astronomy helped prove the Copernican system; Galileo also invented the first thermometer.

Sir Isaac Newton: ( )- English scientist and mathematician often considered to be the greatest figure in the history of science.

Johannes Kepler: German mathematician, his observations confirmed that the sun was at the center of the universe and also added new information. Showed that the orbits of the planets around the sun were not circular, as Copernicus thought, rather the orbits were egg- shaped.

Robert Boyle:- One of the first scientists to conduct controlled experiments. Stated that gas varies with the pressure exerted on it.

Louis Pasteur: ( ) Proposed the germ theory of disease, which was crucial to the development of modern scientific medical practices. Developed a vaccine against rabies, and developed pasteurization.

Marie Curie: Discovered that an element called radium gave off energy, or radiation- that apparently came within the atom itself.

Thomas Edison ( ) American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, motion picture camera, and the light bulb.

Albert Einstein ( ) German born physicist and philosopher of science. He developed the general theory of relativity (geometric theory of gravitation), one of the two pillars of modern physics. Einstein’s (Energy x the speed of light squared) led to the invention of the Atomic Bomb.

Robert Fulton ( ) Colonial American engineer and inventor who is credited with developing the steamboat.

James Watt ( ) Scottish inventor ( Steam Engine) instrumental during the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain. He developed the concept of horsepower, the Watt is named for him.

Samuel Slater ( ) “Father of the American Industrial Revolution” brought textile technology to America.

Scientific method- A systematic procedure for collecting and analyzing evidence that was crucial to the evolution of science in the modern world.

Geocentric Theory: “Earth- Centered”; a system of planetary motion that places Earth at the center of the universe.

Heliocentric Theory: “ Sun- Centered” (Copernicus) the earth and planets revolve around the sun.

Flying Shuttle: Key development in the industrialization of weaving. It allowed a single weaver to weave wider fabrics. (John Kay 1833) Spinning Jenny: Invented by James Hargreaves in Reduced the amount of work needed to produce yarn, a worker could work 8 or more spools at once.

Water Frame: A water-powered spinning frame developed in Cotton Gin: (Eli Whitney 1794) Quickly and easily separates cotton fibers from their seeds. Much greater productivity. Fibers for clothing, seeds could be replanted.

Railroads: Early 1800’s. Railroads were important to the success of the Industrial Revolution. Building railroads created new jobs for farm laborers and peasants. Railroads led to lower-priced goods and created larger markets.

Imperialism: The extension of a nation’s power over other lands. Liverpool to Manchester: (England) First public railway line opened in “The Rocket” went 16 miles per hour.