03 The Scientific Revolution Free Online FlashCards

What was the Scientific Revolution?

A broad transformation in the study of nature, especially in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Europe, that combined observation, experiment, mathematics, instruments, and debate.

What method of inquiry did Francis Bacon advocate?

Induction: systematically collecting observations and using them to develop general conclusions.

How did Galileo approach the study of nature?

He combined observation and experiment with mathematical analysis, arguing that nature’s patterns could be described mathematically.

How did the telescope and microscope extend observation?

The telescope helped astronomers study the heavens, while the microscope revealed structures too small to see unaided.

How did members of the Royal Society advance inquiry?

They shared observations, conducted demonstrations, discussed results, and published findings.

What did the Royal Society’s motto mean?

“Take nobody’s word for it”; it expressed the value of testing claims rather than accepting authority alone.

When did the Royal Society’s journal begin publication?

Philosophical Transactions began publication in 1665.

What cosmic arrangement did Copernicus propose?

He proposed a Sun-centered arrangement of the planets, although his model retained important older assumptions.

What was Tycho Brahe’s contribution to astronomy?

Tycho Brahe made exceptionally precise astronomical observations, providing data that Kepler used to study planetary motion.

What shape of orbit did Kepler identify?

Kepler showed that planets move in elliptical orbits rather than perfect circles.

Why were Galileo’s observations of Jupiter’s moons significant?

He reported moons orbiting Jupiter, challenging the idea that every celestial body revolved around Earth.

What did Newton’s synthesis explain through common principles?

Newton used laws of motion and universal gravitation to explain planetary motion and objects on Earth through the same mathematical principles.