Scientific Revolution
• The "Scientific Revolution" refers to
historical changes in thought &
belief, to changes in social &
institutional organization, that
unfolded in Europe between 15501700;
• Began with Nicholas Copernicus
(1473-1543), who spoke of a
heliocentric (sun-centered) universe,
and ended with Isaac Newton (16421727), who proposed universal laws
and a Mechanical Universe.
Scientific Method
-Francis Bacon “Father of
the Scientific Revolution”
encouraged scientist to use
the scientific method.
-Observation and
experimentation
-Religion, superstition, and
fear were replaced by
reason and knowledge
-Testable hypothesis
Nicolas Copernicus
• First Astronomer to
formulate the
heliocentric theory.
• This theory put the
sun as the center of
the universe,
instead of the earth
which had first
been believed.
• His theories would
later be backed up
by Johannes
Kepler, Galileo
Galilei, and Isaac
Newton.
Galileo
• He is called the “father
of science” and the
father of modern
observational astronomy.
• His achievements
include improving the
telescope and
astronomical
observations
• Affirmed Copernicus’s
theory (Heliocentric
Theory)
Sir Isaac Newton
• Used the Scientific
Method to make
several discoveries
• His discoveries
helped inspire
Enlightenment
Thinkers
• Newton’s theory on
Gravity helped prove
the Heliocentric
Theory and advanced
the thoughts of the
Scientific Revolution.
Laws of Motion
• Object in motion will
stay in motion unless
acted on by outside
force
• Acceleration depends
on Force & Mass. F=ma
• For every action there
is an equal but
opposite reaction
Notes
•Title: Scientific Revolution: The
historical change in thought and belief
• The Scientific Revolution & The Scientific
Method
• Important People of the Scientific
Revolution
The Scientific Revolution
-Started in the European Renaissance and continued
through the 17th & 18 Centuries
-It rejected traditional authority and church
teachings
-Used the Scientific Method to make direct observations
of nature
The Scientific Method
-Developed by Francis Bacon
-People observed nature, made hypotheses, and
tested their hypotheses through experiments
Important People of the
Scientific Revolution
• Nicolas Copernicus
• First Astronomer to formulate the heliocentric
theory that the sun was the center of the
universe
• Galileo “The Father of Science”
• His achievements include improving the
telescope and astronomical observations
• Affirmed Copernicus’s theory (Heliocentric
Theory)
• Sir Isaac Newton
• Newton’s theory on Gravity helped prove the
Heliocentric Theory
• Developed the “Laws of Gravity”
• Robert Boyle
• Used the scientific principals of observation and
experimentation to create Boyle’s Law:
Principals of Physics
Video
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=Vufba_ZcoR0