The Scientific Revolution

What Was the Scientific Revolution? A revolution in human understanding and knowledge about the physical universe 17th century Began with Kepler, Galileo Ended with Newton

“Science” Before the Scientific Revolution Based almost entirely on reasoning Experimental method or observation wasn’t used at all Science in medieval times Alchemy Astrology A medieval alchemist

Francis Bacon and the Scientific Method 1561–1626 English philosopher and empiricist Inductive reasoning Argued for experimental methodology

The Scientific Method Science as a multiple-step process: 3. Test the theory with experiments 2. Develop a theory that explains the object or phenomenon 1. Observe an object or phenomenon

Models of the Universe: Geocentric vs. Heliocentric Geocentric: the Earth is at the center of the universe; all heavenly bodies move around the Earth Heliocentric: the Sun is at the center of the universe; all heavenly bodies move around the Sun—including the Earth

Nicholas Copernicus (1473– 1543) Polish astronomer and mathematician Commentariolus (1514) Concerning the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres (1543)

Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) Italian mathematician, astronomer “Father of Science” Telescopes and astronomical discoveries Theory of falling objects; disproved Aristotle Galileo’s telescopic drawing of the moon

Dialogue on the Two Chief Systems of the World Galileo’s major work Written in 1632 Argued in favor of the heliocentric model of the universe Frontspiece from the Dialogue; from left to right, the figures shown are Aristotle, Ptolemy, and Copernicus

Galileo vs. the Catholic Church The church condemned heliocentric conceptions of the universe The Roman Inquisition Galileo’s trial Galileo recants, put under house arrest 19 th -century depiction of Galileo before the Inquisition tribunal

Sir Isaac Newton (1642–1727) English astronomer, physicist, and mathematician Synthesized the works of Copernicus, Kepler and Galileo The Principia

Newton’s Laws of Motion First Law: Law of Inertia Second Law: Fundamental Law of Dynamics Third Law: Law of Reciprocal Actions

Medicine Before the Scientific Revolution Based on tradition The Church Illustration depicting a bloodletting, an accepted medical procedure before the Scientific Revolution

William Harvey (1578–1657) English physician On the Movement of the Heart and Blood in Animals Described the functioning of the heart and circulatory system Disproved Galen’s theories

New Invention: The Telescope Invented in the Netherlands Galileo Newton Illustration of Galileo at his telescope

New Invention: The Microscope Hans Janssen Anton Van Leeuwenhoek Robert Hooke A Janssen microscope, c.1600 Hooke’s drawing of a flea (from Micrographia)

New Invention: The Pendulum Clock Invented by Christiaan Huygens, a 17th- century Dutch scientist Allowed scientists to more accurately measure time Huygens’s design for a pendulum clock

New Invention: Barometer Invented by 17th-century Italian physicist Evangelista Torricelli The barometer measures air pressure Torricelli’s barometer experiment

New Invention: Thermometer Invented in the 17th century by Santorio Santorio, an Italian scientist Ferdinand II Gabriel Fahrenheit Anders Celsius Illustration depicting Santorio’s thermometer Santorio

New Invention: Mechanical Calculator Invented by Wilhelm Schickard, a 17th- century German inventor Gottfried von Leibniz’s “Step Reckoner” Wilhelm Schickard A 1624 sketch Schickard made of his calculator

The Significance of the Scientific Revolution Abandonment of ancient and medieval systems Development of the scientific method The Enlightenment