The development of science

Question 1

In what order did the main scientific thinkers come?

Answer 1

Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, Newton

Question 2

What were Copernicus’ main influences?

Answer 2

He was very educated, the work of Ptolemy whose problems he adressed.

Question 3

What were Copernicus’ key ideas?

Answer 3

That the sun and not the Earth was at the center of the universe. Believed that all movements were perfectly circular.

Question 4

What was Copernicus’ impact?

Answer 4

Had importer influences late in the period. Many saw his book as the start of the scientific revolution.

Question 5

What limitations are there to Copernicus’ work?

Answer 5

He had to present his ideas as a theory rather than as objective fact. He tried to be careful and dedicate his work to the pope. Had no immediate impact. Book banned by Catholic church in 1616

Question 6

What was the significance of Copernicus?

Answer 6

He was the first to come up with such a theory and influenced many later scientists.

Question 7

What were the main influences on Kepler?

Answer 7

Studied maths and astronomy at university. Used an Aristotelian approach. Tycho Brahe who removed the ideas of planets travelling in circles.

Question 8

What were Kepler’s key ideas?

Answer 8

Heliocentric view. Universe created by God. Proposed complicated pattern of how planets moved. Planets travel in elliptical orbits. Planets do not have a constant speed. Eventually identified elliptical orbits.

Question 9

What was the impact of Kepler?

Answer 9

He provided a discussion in his theories. Merged natural philosophy and mathematics. Used observation as well as mathematical formula to support his ideas. Showed that observation is needed to prove a theory.

Question 10

What were the limitations of Kepler?

Answer 10

Based his views off religion, tried ton prove God’s perfect universe. Couldn’t fully develop his ideas as he did not have the theory of gravity. Believed in horoscopes.

Question 11

What was the significance of kepler?

Answer 11

He shifted belief from constant circular motions to more elliptical ones. Led the way for a new generation of mathematicians.

Question 12

What influenced Galileo?

Answer 12

He attended the university of Pisa. felt deeply indebted to Copernicus. Was also influenced by Aristotle and Ptolemy.

Question 13

What were Galileo’s key ideas?

Answer 13

That the tides were essential to understanding the motion of the Earth. Moons were not unique to the earth. The number of stars was not fixed. The Earth moves and rotates. The only way to find truth is through reflection and experience. Heliocentric view.

Question 14

What impact did Galileo have on changing ideas of the universe?

Answer 14

He came close to Newtons’ theory of gravity. Developed a mathematical approach to the study of natural phenomenon. Communicated his theories well. Used telescope and observation to make discoveries. Works were translated. He ignored the church.

Question 15

What limitations were there to Galileo?

Answer 15

The church banned many of his books and put him under house arrest. Ignored many of Kepler’s assertions.

Question 16

What is the significance of Galileo?

Answer 16

Believed in observation and empiricism more than mysticism and supersticion.

Question 17

Who were Isaac Newton’s main influences?

Answer 17

He went to trinity college in Cambridge. Descartes. Huygens who published works similar to his laws of motion. Previous thinkers said he was ‘standing on the shoulders of giants’. Huygens who published similar work in 1673.

Question 18

What were Newton’s key ideas?

Answer 18

The force which propelled planets around the sun is the same as what kept people on Earth. Kepler’s laws could be mathematically proven. Proposed three laws of motion.

Question 19

What was Newton’s impact?

Answer 19

He represented an important break from the thinking of the middle ages. His calculations worked. His work eventually sold to the masses.

Question 20

What are the limitations of Newton?

Answer 20

He was not accessible to many having written in Latin. He still believed in the power of magic. Studied the Bible as much as he studied astronomy. He was building upon others findings. His work was initially published in Latin.

Question 21

What was the significance of Newton?

Answer 21

Most of his work has not been refuted and he has changed the scientific landscape.

Question 22

Name one book published by Copernicus.

Answer 22

On the revolutions of heavenly spheres- 1543

Question 23

Name one book published by Kepler.

Answer 23

Cosmic mystery, 1596, New astronomy (where he identified elliptical orbits), 1609, Harmonies of the world, 1619

Question 24

Name one book published by Galileo.

Answer 24

Discourse on the tides, 1616, Dialogue concerning the two chief world systems, 1632.

Question 25

Name one book published by Newton.

Answer 25

Principa Mathematica, 1687.

Question 26

Who did Kepler work under?

Answer 26

Tycho Brahe

Question 27

What were Kepler’s two laws of planetary motion?

Answer 27

Planets move in elliptical orbits, planets do not move at a consistent speed.

Question 28

What made Galileo significant?

Answer 28

He was a great communicator, managed to make concepts clear to the masses.

Question 29

What did Galileo question?

Answer 29

Whether the universe was unchanging due to the discovery of new stars, the right of the church to have authority over science.

Question 30

Who was seen as Newton’s forerunner?

Answer 30

Huygens, developed theories of motion and gravity which influenced Newton.

Question 31

When was Newton president of the royal society?

Answer 31

1703-1727