The Scientific Revolution

What is a revolution?

• It is a major change.

Revolution

A Geocentric Universe• The ancient astronomer, Ptolemy, proposed a

geocentric (earth centered) universe.

• This Ptolemaic System was accepted for over 1500 years.

Why did the Roman Catholic Church believe in a geocentric

universe?

• The Bible taught that God created the earth and people. It made sense that the sun, moon, planets, and stars revolved around the earth.

Who are astronomers?

• Astronomers are scientists who study the motions of stars and planets.

How did Copernicus change the way people looked at the

universe?• He

believed in a heliocentric, or sun-centered, universe.

Why did Copernicus have to keep his work a secret

for most of his life?

• He realized his ideas would cause conflict with the Church. He faced possible arrest or excommunication.

How did Kepler change Copernicus's theory?

• Kepler showed that the planets moved in ellipses.

How did Galileo discover more about the universe?

• Galileo built an improved telescope.

Galileo's Telescope

Galileo and the Church

Why do you think the Church would want to

punish Galileo?

The Church and the Heliocentric Universe

• Scientists began to question the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

• A conflict between scientific thought and religious beliefs arose.

• The Church did not want its authority questioned.

Galileo was Punished• Galileo was renounced

and put under house arrest.

• Scientists who agreed with Galileo and Copernicus could face excommunication.

What is the purpose of the scientific method?

The Scientific Method

Why is Isaac Newton significant?

• He discovered that white light can be broken into the spectrum.

• He invented the form of math known as calculus.

• He developed the law of gravity.

Newton

In what ways do the think the Age of Exploration affected,

or led to, the Scientific Revolution?