UNIT 1: THE UNIVERSE
ASTRONOMY
1. Paradigm shift
Paradigm theory:
➔ A new law or theory that radically changes how essential scientific concepts are
understood or framed.
Examples of paradigm theories:
- Ptolemy’s geocentric model of the universe (with the earth at the center)
- Copernicus’ heliocentric astronomy (with the sun at the center)
- Newton’s theory of gravity
- Einstein’s theory of relativity
Paradigm shift:
➔ A paradigm shift occurs when one paradigm theory is replaced by another.
What causes paradigm shift:
● Most of the workers within a field agree upon a paradigm.
● Before that, everyone is doing their own thing, their own way.
● Once a paradigm theory has been established, those working within it can start
doing “normal science”.
Normal science: solving specific puzzles, collecting data, making calculations, etc.
Normal science includes:
- Working out how far each planet in the solar system is from the sun
- Completing the map of the human genome
- Establishing the evolutionary descent of a particular species
What changes during a paradigm shift?
● The theoretical opinion of scientists working in the field.
● When a paradigm shift occurs, somehow the world changes. (according to Kuhn)
, UNIT 1: THE UNIVERSE
Heliocentric vs geometric
Geometric model:
➔ The Earth is in the center of the universe,
with the sun, planets, and stars orbiting.
➔ Proposed by Claudio Ptolemy.
Heliocentric theory:
➔ The Earth and the planets revolve around the
sun, which is at the center of the solar system.
➔ Constituted a paradigm shift.
➔ Proposed by Copernicus and Galileo.
Evidence:
● Less complicated than the geometric model,
thus follows the Occam’s razor.
● Allowed accurate predictions of planet
positions.
● Galileos telescope showed moons orbiting
Jupiter, not Earth.
Further development:
● Kepler stated that the orbits of the planets aren’t perfect circles = ellipses.
● Kepler explained that the speed of planets could vary depending on the
proximity to the sun.
● Newton’s laws supported heliocentrism.
ASTRONOMY
1. Paradigm shift
Paradigm theory:
➔ A new law or theory that radically changes how essential scientific concepts are
understood or framed.
Examples of paradigm theories:
- Ptolemy’s geocentric model of the universe (with the earth at the center)
- Copernicus’ heliocentric astronomy (with the sun at the center)
- Newton’s theory of gravity
- Einstein’s theory of relativity
Paradigm shift:
➔ A paradigm shift occurs when one paradigm theory is replaced by another.
What causes paradigm shift:
● Most of the workers within a field agree upon a paradigm.
● Before that, everyone is doing their own thing, their own way.
● Once a paradigm theory has been established, those working within it can start
doing “normal science”.
Normal science: solving specific puzzles, collecting data, making calculations, etc.
Normal science includes:
- Working out how far each planet in the solar system is from the sun
- Completing the map of the human genome
- Establishing the evolutionary descent of a particular species
What changes during a paradigm shift?
● The theoretical opinion of scientists working in the field.
● When a paradigm shift occurs, somehow the world changes. (according to Kuhn)
, UNIT 1: THE UNIVERSE
Heliocentric vs geometric
Geometric model:
➔ The Earth is in the center of the universe,
with the sun, planets, and stars orbiting.
➔ Proposed by Claudio Ptolemy.
Heliocentric theory:
➔ The Earth and the planets revolve around the
sun, which is at the center of the solar system.
➔ Constituted a paradigm shift.
➔ Proposed by Copernicus and Galileo.
Evidence:
● Less complicated than the geometric model,
thus follows the Occam’s razor.
● Allowed accurate predictions of planet
positions.
● Galileos telescope showed moons orbiting
Jupiter, not Earth.
Further development:
● Kepler stated that the orbits of the planets aren’t perfect circles = ellipses.
● Kepler explained that the speed of planets could vary depending on the
proximity to the sun.
● Newton’s laws supported heliocentrism.
