The Scientific Revolution & Key Figures

Question 1

What was the shift in scientific thinking during the Scientific Revolution?

Answer 1

The shift was from a geocentric model (Earth at the center) to a heliocentric model (Sun at the center), proposed by Copernicus and later supported by Galileo.

Question 2

Why was Copernicus hesitant to publish his heliocentric model?

Answer 2

Copernicus delayed publishing his model because he felt the evidence was not yet convincing and feared upsetting the Roman Catholic Church.

Question 3

How did Galileo contribute to the acceptance of the heliocentric model?

Answer 3

Galileo used a telescope to observe celestial phenomena that supported the heliocentric model. His evidence was so convincing that it eventually dominated astronomy despite Church resistance.

Question 4

What method did Galileo use to demonstrate scientific principles?

Answer 4

Galileo combined:

Intuition – Examining sensory experiences.
Demonstration – Using mathematics to deduce truths.
Experimentation – Verifying predictions with practical tests.

Question 5

What were Isaac Newton’s key contributions to science?

Answer 5

Newton explained planetary motion using laws of physics and described forces with precise calculations in his book Principia Mathematica (1687).