Video Notes Vocabulary Flashcards: Science, History, and the Scientific Revolution

100 vocabulary-style flashcards derived from the lecture notes, covering branches of science, notable figures and theories, the scientific method, ancient Egypt, alchemy, metallurgy, architecture, and the nature of science.

Chemistry

Study of matter, its properties, and how substances interact.

Biology

Study of living things and life processes.

Physics

Study of matter, energy, motion, and forces.

Astronomy

Study of celestial bodies such as stars, planets, and galaxies.

Cosmology

Branch of astronomy focusing on the origin and structure of the universe.

Geology

Study of the Earth’s physical structure, materials, and processes.

Evolution by natural selection

Theory that species adapt and change over time through differential survival.

Charles Darwin

British naturalist who proposed evolution by natural selection.

Sigmund Freud

Austrian neurologist who founded psychoanalysis.

Continental drift theory

Idea that continents once formed a single landmass and drifted apart.

Alfred Wegener

German scientist who proposed continental drift theory.

Geocentric theory

Earth-centered model of the solar system.

Claudius Ptolemy

Ancient Greek astronomer who supported the geocentric model.

Heliocentric theory

Sun-centered model of the solar system.

Nicolaus Copernicus

Proposed heliocentric theory; Sun at the center.

Big Bang Theory

Origin of the universe from a rapid expansion about 13.8 billion years ago.

Georges Lemaître

Proposed the idea of the expanding universe from a single point.

Edwin Hubble

Astronomer who provided evidence that the universe is expanding via redshift observations.

Commentariolus

A short, unpublished work by Copernicus outlining the heliocentric theory.

Scientific Revolution

Period roughly from the 16th to 18th centuries when science shifted to observation and reason.

Matter

Anything that has mass and takes up space.

Gravity

The force that attracts two objects with mass toward each other.

Origin of Species

Full title: On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection (1859).

Scientific Method

Systematic process of investigation including steps like identifying problems, hypotheses, experiments, analysis, and reporting.

Identify the problem

First step: recognizing a question or problem to solve.

Collect information

Gather background information and data relevant to the problem.

Form a Hypothesis

Educated guess or testable prediction.

Test the Hypothesis

Experiment to test the prediction.

Analyze results

Examine data to determine whether results support or refute the hypothesis.

Report the Results

Communicate findings and conclusions.

365-day calendar

Egyptian calendar year based on the Sirius star.

Sirius

Brightest star visible from Earth; used to time calendars.

Pyramids alignment

Pyramids aligned to cardinal points for astronomical precision.

Pyramids

Massive ancient Egyptian tombs; examples include the Great Pyramids of Giza.

Geometry

Branch of mathematics used in pyramid building and land division.

Rhind Papyrus

Ancient Egyptian document containing fractions and basic algebra.

Fractions

Parts of a whole used in Rhind Papyrus calculations.

Algebra

Branch of mathematics used by Egyptians in Rhind Papyrus calculations.

Ebers Papyrus

Ancient Egyptian medical text recording surgeries, herbs, and treatments.

Anatomy

Study of the structure of the body.

Pharmacology

Study of medicines and their effects.

Egyptian Medicine

Medical knowledge and practices recorded by ancient Egyptians.

Egyptian examination/diagnosis/treatment

Practice of examining, diagnosing, and treating illness in ancient Egypt.

Calendars lunar

Lunar calendars used by Egyptians to track time with moon cycles.

Calendars solar

Solar calendars used to track year length and seasons.

Calendars stellar

Stellar calendars based on positions of stars.

Metallurgy

Science of working with metals.

Ironworking

Ironworking learned from the Near East.

Plows

Use of metals for farming tools such as plows.

Chisels

Tools used for stone carving; often metal.

Hammers

Tools used for shaping stone; metal hammers.

Weapons

Metal weapons developed for defense and warfare.

Rectilinear design

Building with straight lines and right angles for precision.

Great Pyramids of Giza

Giant triangular tombs in Egypt.

Temples of Karnak

Egyptian temple complex with post-and-lintel entrances.

Luxor Temple

Egyptian temple with post-and-lintel architecture.

Obelisks

Tall stone pillars with square bases.

Alchemy

Ancient practice combining early chemistry, medicine, and mysticism with the goal of transforming metals into gold.

Medieval forerunner of chemistry

Alchemy as the early precursor to modern chemistry.

Transmutation

Idea of turning base metals into gold (alchemy concept).

Medicine in Egypt

Egyptian medical knowledge and practices.

Anatomy in Egypt

Anatomical knowledge developed in ancient Egypt.

Rhind Papyrus fractions

Fractions used in Rhind Papyrus calculations.

Ebers Papyrus diseases

Diseases and treatments described in Ebers Papyrus.

Islamic Africa (Medieval)

Medieval Islamic Africa preserved and expanded algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.

Algebra in Islamic Africa

Algebra development and use in Islamic Africa.

Trigonometry

Mathematical study developed during the Islamic era.

Preservation/expansion of ancient math

Islamic scholars preserved and expanded ancient mathematical knowledge.

Egypt mnemonic pyramid

Symbolic association linking Egypt with pyramids in geometry/astronomy/medicine mnemonics.

Egypt mnemonic star

Symbolic association linking Egypt with stars in mnemonics.

Egypt mnemonic herb

Symbolic association linking Egypt with herbs in mnemonics.

Copernicus heliocentric idea

Heliocentric model proposed by Copernicus.

Ptolemy geocentric idea

Geocentric idea supported by Ptolemy.

Darwin evolution

Evolution by natural selection.

Freud psychoanalysis

Founder of psychoanalysis.

Wegener continental drift concept

Continental drift theory.

Lemaître expansion idea

Idea that the universe expands from a single point.

Hubble redshift

Evidence that the universe is expanding from redshift observations.

Commentariolus significance

Early Copernican work introducing heliocentrism.

Earth’s rotation

Rotation on its axis causing day and night.

Earth’s revolution

Revolution around the Sun causing seasons.

Day/night and seasons

Effects of rotation and revolution on daylight and seasons.

Photosynthesis

Process by which green plants transform light energy into chemical energy.

Sun energy to chemical energy

Result of photosynthesis as light energy is stored as chemical energy.

Science as Idea

Science as ideas, theories, and explanations needing evidence.

Science as Intellectual Activity

Systematic study of the natural world through observation and experimentation.

Science as Body of Knowledge

Science as a discipline with accumulated, reliable information.

Science as Personal and Social Activity

Science as human activity involving collaboration, openness, and sharing.

Sharing ideas

Observations, hypotheses, and conclusions shared in papers and conferences.

Collaboration

Scientists work together, sharing samples, techniques, and results.

Openness

Science is open to challenge and change, guided by evidence.

Human Search for Knowledge

Humans seek understanding, meaning, and explanations through science and philosophy.

Origins of the Scientific Revolution

Early 16th to 18th century movement in Europe that transformed science.

Europe (as cradle of the revolution)

Region where the Scientific Revolution began due to printing press and scholarly activity.

Printing press impact

Technology that helped spread ideas quickly during the Scientific Revolution.

Global nature of science

Science has always developed in multiple civilizations, not only Europe.

Earth center vs Sun center

Geocentric vs heliocentric models of the solar system.

Ancient Egyptian astronomy

Egyptian study of celestial bodies and calendars.

Pyramid geometry

Geometric techniques used in pyramid construction.

Star calendar significance

Use of stellar observations to time farming seasons.