THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD AND INTELLECTUAL REVOLUTION

Scientific Method

the backbone of every science experiment. It is a methodical framework to solve problems and determine answers in a step-by-step logical format.

• Physics

• Mathematics

• Astronomy

• Biology

At the dawn of modern science, Western Europe, especially England, France, and the Netherlands Led scientific advancements.

This Period saw progress in?

Isaac Newton

Newton’s Law of Motion

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz

Mechanical Calculator

Empiricism

became a key approach, emphasizing observation and experimentation.

The Royal Society (1660)

promoted standardized scientific practices.

Isaac Newton’s Principia Mathematica (1687)

used mathematical deduction to describe natural laws, revolutionizing physics.

Robert Hooke

advanced microscopy, emphasizing detailed observation.

Robert Boyle and Christiaan Huygens

developed experimental techniques in chemistry and physics, solidifying the role of experimentation in science.

• State the Problem.

• Find out about the Topic.

• Predict the outcome of the Problem.

• Develop a procedure to test the Hypothesis.

• Record the results of the Experiment.

• Compare the hypothesis to the experiment’s Conclusion.

SCIENTIFIC METHOD STEPS

STATE THE PROBLEM/PURPOSE

• State the problem that you are attempting to solve.

• Be specific and avoid broad statements, the more specific your problem the easier you will find a starting point to solve it.

Broad Statement

“In what conditions do plants grow best?”

• This statement is so general that it is almost impossible to design an experiment.

Specific Statement

“Do bean plants grow better in direct sunlight, indirect sunlight, or shade?”

• This statement has narrowed down the problem to one plant and one factor determining its growth, making the problem easily solved through experimentation.

RESEARCH

• After stating your problem, it is important to research your topic.

• This allows you to form an intelligent hypothesis.

• Document your research well by citing all sources used to formulate your ideas.

  • Use a variety of sources, books, webpages, newspaper articles, and journals.

HYPOTHESIS

• an educated guess about the outcome of your experiment, based on your knowledge and research conducted.

  • should be a clear and simple statement. (Not a question)

  • It should only state what you think your results will be, not why you think you will get those results.

EXPERIMENT

• Develop a procedure to test your hypothesis.

• It is important to list and have all the materials needed to experiment properly.

  • Accurate measurements must be taken to ensure valid experimental results.

  • Be sure to address safety concerns and take all precautions necessary to ensure your experiment is safe to complete.

ANALYSIS

• Record the results of the experiment.

• This is done in a data table or chart.

  • Organize data well so that finding results and trends is easier.

  • Take thorough and accurate measurements during the experiment so that the data is valid.

• Find associations and trends in your data. Make connections between the experiment and your results.

CONCLUSION

• Compare the hypothesis to the experiment’s

  conclusion.

• State if you proved or disproved your hypothesis.

• Name any errors that could have been made during the experiment or results that could have affected your outcome.

Intellectual Revolution

• Brilliant minds responded to the call of the times and created things that could make life easier for people.

• It is a period where advancements in science and technology changed people’s perceptions and beliefs.

• It showed how society was transformed by science and technology.

• Copernican Revolution

• Darwinian Revolution

Intellectual Revolutions that defined Society

Copernican Revolution

• In the early times, people questioned what created days and nights, and wanted to understand heavenly bodies.

• Philosophers agreed that planets moved around in circular motion, creating days and nights.

• This era began the scientific revolution which resulted in the transformation of society’s thoughts and beliefs.

Nicolaus Copernicus

• In the 16th century, he introduced the concept of heliocentrism.

• The center of the Solar System was the sun.

• It was rejected at first because their religious belief taught them the Earth was created first before all other things.

• It was eventually accepted by the people which was called the birth of modern astronomy.

Darwinian Revolution

• It is considered one of the most controversial intellectual revolutions of its time.

• This theory became controversial as this is contradictory to the church’s teachings.

• Sparked a massive debate between science and religion.

Charles Darwin

• He published his book, “On the Origin of Species”. It introduced the “theory of evolution”.

• Natural Selection - only the fittest would survive.

• Organisms can adapt to their environment and would gradually change into something that would be more competitive to survive.

• The Scientific Revolution (16th-17th Century)

• The Enlightenment (17th-18th Century)

Intellectual Revolutions that have defined Societies

The Scientific Revolution

• (16th-17th Century)

• Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, Isaac Newton.

• This period marked a shift from reliance on religious and philosophical explanations of the natural world to a focus on empirical evidence and scientific inquiry.

The Enlightenment

• (17th-18th Century)

• Voltaire, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

• The Enlightenment emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority.

Industrial Revolution

• a period of profound economic, technological, and social change that began in the late 18th century and continued into the 19th century.

• Originating in Britain, it marked the transition from agrarian economies based on manual labor to industrialized, machine-driven production.

• a major turning point in history.

• It was a period of significant transformation in manufacturing, agriculture, transportation, and society, leading to the modern industrialized world.

Enlightenment of Revolutionaries

• a philosophical movement emphasizing reason, individual rights, and skepticism of authority, profoundly influenced revolutionaries in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

• Its ideas inspired the American Revolution, leading to the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, which incorporated principles of liberty, equality, and government by consent.

Encyclopédie

• ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers (or a Systematic Dictionary of the Sciences, Arts, and Crafts)

• one of the most significant publications of the Enlightenment.

Rise of the Engineer

• the period, particularly during the Industrial Revolution and the 19th century, when engineering emerged as a distinct and prestigious profession.

• Engineers became central figures in the development of new technologies, infrastructure, and industrial processes, playing a crucial role in shaping the modern world.

• James Watt

• Richard Arkwright

• Eli Whitney

• George Stephenson

• Isambard Kingdom Brunel

• Abraham Darby

• Joseph Paxton

• Michael Faraday

• Charles Babbage

Pioneers of the Industrial Revolution

James Watt

• (1736-1819)

• Improved the steam engine.

Richard Arkwright

• (1732-1792)

• Invented the water frame

Eli Whitney

• (1765-1825)

• Invented the cotton gin.

George Stephenson

• (1781-1848)

• Developed the first successful steam locomotive

Isambard Kingdom Brunel

• (1806-1859)

• Designed significant infrastructure projects, including bridges, railways, and ships

Abraham Darby

• (1678-1717)

• Pioneered the use of coke in smelting iron

Joseph Paxton

• (1803-1865)

• Designed the Crystal Palace

Michael Faraday

• (1791-1867)

• Made foundational discoveries in electromagnetism and electrochemistry

Charles Babbage

• (1791-1871)

• Designed the Difference Engine and the Analytical Engine

Digital Revolution

• (Late 20th Century-Present)

• Tim Berners-Lee, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates.

• The rise of digital technology, including computers, the internet, and mobile devices, has revolutionized communication, information access, and global connectivity.