Friday, September 18, 2009

Copernicus and the trial of Galileo


Back then, during Galileo's time, people believed that the earth was the center of the universe. And that everything revolved around the earth. This is called Geo-centrism.
But, Galileo was certain that the earth actually revolved around the sun. This is called heliocentrism. Because Galileo's beliefs were against the churches; the church put him on trial. Just because he believed in the heliocentrism. and sent him to jail. All of his teachings, and the teachings of Kepler and Copernicus were banned.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Scientific Revolution: The Scientific Method





The Scientific Revolution changed the way people thought. The Scientific Method is a way a person can check if someones theory is right or wrong. Long ago people believed everything they heard, if someone had an idea or a guess about something one would hear it and say that it is true. A lot of people believed in Aristotle and his theory's because it sounded right but people stopped believing around the 1500's. When the scientific method was introduced scientists tested his theory's and proved if he was right or wrong.


The scientific method is still used today.It is used in school when your doing a lab or inside real scientist labs when they're trying to prove a point. There are 4 steps in the scientific method.
1.Observation - When you find a problem or a topic
2. Hypothesis - Just a well thought out guess on what the outcome will be
3. Experiment - Actually conducting an experiment to prove your hypothesis wrong or right.
4. Conclusion - When you gathered your work, and have found an answer.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Evolution Vs. Creation


The theory of evolution states that man evolved from animals and that we are all related with the same ancestors. This theory came from a man named Charles Darwin from his studies of Finches. H
is theory was that we all came from the same ancestor, or a common ancestor. And with the process of natural selection, we kept living, and mutating(adapting) to our environment. So basically, we evolve to survive with the changing environment. In evolution, things adapt to the needs of their environment. Here is an example of Darwin's theory of evolution. There are three birds that are from the same habitat and Bird A has a long, skinny beak and that long beak is used for catching insects. Bird B has a fat beak used for eating small insects. And Bird C has a small beak used to eat fruit. Each of these birds adapted to their environment and each of them having a unique trait, that is where the Theory of Evolution came from.
Creationism is another theory that people believe, In this theory people believe that humans and animals are not the same and that we were made by a person/Thing of higher power (god). People also believe that god created everything in this universe such as land,water,trees etc. Many religions believe that we humans came from two people in general; Adam and Eve which is stated in almost every religious book (Quran,Bible,Talmud etc.)
Which one do I believe? Well I really can't tell you that right now, because I'm trying to find out myself. If I were to say which one my family wants me to believe then my answer would be Creationism. The reason why i choose neither sides is because I don't know much about these two topics and everything I've read about them hasn't caught my attention. Sure evolution can show you facts and data's but they can't show you all of it like where did it start? and how did it start?. Creation doesn't really move me either because the only thing that has to show is some book that has been edited over a thousand time. So until I make up my mind my choice is none I don't believe any of them, but when i do I'll be sure to let you know.