Chapter 8 ID Terms
Quiz over terms on ____________________________
1.
Galileo Galilei
2.
Aristotle
3.
Ptolemaic System
4.
Geocentric view
of the universe
Heliocentric view
of the universe
Nicholas
Copernicus
5.
6.
7.
Andreas Vesalius
8.
William Harvey
9.
Tycho Brahe
10. Johannes Kepler
11. Francis Bacon
12. Rene Descartes
13. Inductive
Reasoning
14. Deductive
Reasoning
15. Isaac Newton
1564-1642; Italian astronomer and physicist. Galileo developed a telescope that could be used to help study the
solar system. Galileo’s observations helped to further disprove traditional, Geocentric views of the universe. He
also challenged Aristotle’s views on motion (see Aristotle’s card). Galileo developed a theory of inertia. Described
as “feisty”, Galileo got into hot water with the Catholic Church due to the spread of his ideas. The Pope told him
to stop teaching his ideas; he responded by publishing Dialogue Concerning Tow World Systems- Ptolemaic and
Copernican. In 1633, Galileo was subjected to the Inquisition after which he was sentenced to house arrest.
Galileo eventually went blind but continued his observations and experimentation until his death.
384-322 BCE; ancient Greek philosopher. Aristotle believed the Earth was the center of the universe. He
envisioned the universe as a series of spheres that surrounded the Earth. Aristotle also believed that the natural
tendency of objects was to remain at rest and that movement occurred only when an object came in contact with
other objects. Without contact, an object would stop moving. Aristotle’s views were widely accepted by religious
leaders as well as most Medieval scholars.
View of the universe based on the teachings of Claudius Ptolemy, a Greek astronomer (85-165 CE). The Ptolemaic
System accepts many of the ideas of Aristotle. According to Ptolemy, Earth was the center of the universe and
was surrounded by spheres with the outermost sphere being composed of distant stars (which he believed to be
fixed points of light) and the innermost spheres composed of the moon and other planets. Like the ideas of
Aristotle, the Ptolemaic system was widely accepted by Church leaders and Medieval scholars.
Belief that the Earth is the center of the universe. This idea was widely supported by ancient scholars such as
Aristotle and Ptolemy as well as Church officials and Medieval scholars.
Supported by modern science, this theory places the sun at the center of our solar system with the Earth and
other planets revolving around the sun.
1473-1543; Polish cleric who challenged traditional views of the universe. In his famous work, Concerning the
Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres, Copernicus disagreed with the Aristotelian and Ptolemaic views of the
universe. Copernicus did not believe that other planets and stars orbited around Earth. He also did not believe
the universe was arranged in spherical orbits. He believed the sun was the center of the universe and that the
Earth rotated on an axis while revolving around the sun. Copernicus’ ideas were not well received by the religious
community. Martin Luther even called him a “fool”.
1514-1564; author of On the Fabric of the Human Body. Vesalius made significant advances in the understanding
of biological science. His study of cadavers and human skeletons helped him to have a more accurate
understanding of the human body.
1578-1657; an English scientist who studied blood circulation, which was largely misunderstood in previous times.
Harvey concluded that the heart acted as a pump to help push blood through the body.
1546-1601; a Danish astronomer who built an astronomical observatory, which he used to help locate the position
of planets and stars in the solar system. His calculations, however, were often inaccurate and he also disagreed
with the ideas of a Heliocentric universe as was proposed by Copernicus.
1571-1630; German assistant to Tycho Brahe. Unlike Brahe, however, Kepler did agree with Copernicus’ view of
the universe. His study of planetary orbits led to the conclusion that planets orbited the sun in elliptical patterns,
not perfect circles. Kepler also concluded that “magnetic attraction” (what we now call gravity) was a force that
acted on both planets orbiting the sun as well as tides on Earth.
1561-1626; English lawyer, statesman, and philosopher. Bacon called for a total disregard of traditional views on
science and advocated a completely new view on scientific inquiry. Bacon was a well-known figure in England and
helped to spark interest in science among English society.
1596-1650; French mathematician, scientist, and philosopher. Author of Discourses on Method. Descartes
encouraged deductive reasoning rather than experimentation to help solve problems. Famous Quote: “Cogito
ergo sum”- “I think, therefore I am”.
Process of using observation and experimentation to help develop conclusions; type of scientific inquiry
encouraged by Francis Bacon.
Thought process encouraged by Rene Descartes. Descartes believed that one could solve a problem by starting
with the easiest aspect of the problem and working ones way up to the most difficult part of the problem.
Through logic and reason, one would be able to solve even the most complex problems.
1642-1727; author of Principia, the Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. Newton developed theories on
gravitation and helped to support the ideas of previous scientists. He calculated the density of the Earth,
suggested that electrical impulses helped to activate the nervous system, developed the understanding of the
color spectrum, calculated sound wavelengths, and invented Calculus (concurrently, but separately, with Gottfried
Leibniz). He constructed the first reflecting telescope.
Chapter 8 ID Terms
Quiz over terms on ____________________________