I N T E R A C T I V E
S T U D E N T
N O T E B O O K
The Scientific Revolution
How did the Scientific Revolution change the way people
understood the world?
P R E V I E W
In the space below, draw a diagram showing the relationship between the sun and the planets.
Your diagram should include labels for the sun, each planet, and Earth’s moon, and should
show their orbits.
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R E A D I N G
N O T E S
Key Content Terms
As you complete the Reading Notes, use these terms in your answers.
Scientific Revolution
heliocentric theory
rationalismgravity
geocentric theory
scientific method
hypothesis
mass
Section 2
1. What two sources guided most Europeans’ thinking about the natural world during the
Middle Ages?
2. In two or three sentences, explain how each of the following led Europeans to question the
traditional worldview:
• Renaissance:
• Age of Exploration:
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Section 3
1. In the space below, complete a diagram that explains the heliocentric theory. Label the
diagram with the three major parts of Copernicus’s heliocentric theory.
2. How did Kepler’s work improve on or support Copernicus’s heliocentric theory?
Section 4
1. What were three important discoveries Galileo made with his telescope?
2. How did Galileo’s discoveries help support the heliocentric theory?
3. Why did Catholic Church leaders feel threatened by Galileo’s support of the heliocentric
theory?
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Section 5
1. What was the basic idea behind Newton’s law of gravity?
2. How did Newton’s work support the earlier work of Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo?
Section 6
1. What role did Francis Bacon and Rene Descartes play in creating a new approach
to science?
2. Complete the following chart by recording the steps of the scientific method.
Include a symbol to represent each step.
Step
Symbol
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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Section 7
In each box below, draw a quick sketch of each of the four key inventions of the Scientific Revolution covered in the lesson. Then write a one-sentence summary of each invention’s purpose.
Telescope
Barometer
Microscope
Thermometer
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P ro c essing
Review and evaluate the importance of the discoveries, inventions, and contributions of the
following individuals or groups of people during the Scientific Revolution:
• Nicolaus Copernicus and Johannes Kepler
• Galileo Galilei
• Francis Bacon and Rene Descartes
• Isaac Newton
• Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, Evangelista Torricelli, and Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit
Then, using the awards pedestals below, award gold, silver, and bronze medals to the three
individuals or groups you think did the most, during this time, to change the way people
understand the world. On each pedestal, draw a picture or symbol to represent that winner.
Then complete the sentence inside the appropriate pedestal for each medalist.
_____________________
deserves the gold
medal because
_____________________
_____________________
deserves the silver
medal because
deserves the bronze
medal because
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