HPS210 Final Detailed Exam 2025
lore about machinery - -scientists started to explore connections between specific
machines and natural processes
most influential connections between machines and nature (2) - -- Harvey's treatment of
human heart as a special kind of pump
- Kepler's treatment of human eye as a pinhole camera with focusing properties
known for optics - -Kepler
Brahe - -found that lunar diameter appeared smaller during solar eclipse than at other
times, so either moon changes size or moved further away from earth during eclipse
what did Kepler say about the moon diameter appearing smaller during solar eclipse
than at other times? - -Kepler said changing diameter of moon was caused by
intersection of optical mechanism with rays of light (deception is built onto pinhole
camera)
Kepler and retina - -Kepler said act of seeing involves painting an inverted picture on
retina, like picture that appears on back of camera obscura
who said that the world is seen differently through eyes of other animals? - -Kepler
who studied the heart? - -Galen
Harvey - -- planned program on respiration, functions of brain and spleen, animal
locomotion and anatomy
- dissected eight different species of animals
who came up with universal cause of motion? - -Descartes
who came up with law of conservation? - -Descartes
who accepted Aristotle's "nature abhors a vacuum"? - -Descartes
what did Descartes say the fundamental property of matter is? - -extension
who came up with vortex theory of planetary motion? - -Descartes
Descartes and motion - -- all motion is conserved
- a particle has the tendency to move in a straight line
- motion is relational property (the change of distance between two bodies)
- motion is conserved by God
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two causes of motion - -universal and primary cause
Descartes' first law of nature - -each thing always remains in same state
Descartes' second law of nature - -all movement is along straight lines
Descartes' third law of nature - -a body about to come in contact with a weaker one,
loses as much as it transfers to the weaker body (depends on velocity and size)
inertia doesn't play a role in his planetary system - -Descartes
vortex - -because of circular motion, particles collide with one another and because they
break off into smaller pieces, the small pieces accumulate in the center of each vortex
causing a whirlpool or vortex of matter
Planetary system as a vortex (who and what does that mean?) - -- Descartes idea
- a bunch of vortexes pressing on each other
- planets do what they do bc pressure from other vortexes press against (in conjuction
with centripetal force, like tetherball)
scum and sun spots - -sun spots are caused by particles boiling up onto the surface of
the sun and that's called scum
what's a decaying star? (Descartes) - -when scum extends over entire surface of a star
what's a comet? (Descartes) - -if a decaying star velocity is greater than any part of the
vortex, it will jump into another vortex and that's a comet
what's a planet? (Descartes) - -when the velocity of star is the same as the vortex, it will
revolve in the vortex and be wrapped in particles and this star is called a planet
how did Descartes explain gravity? - -Descartes said celestial matter that circulates in
all directions around the earth tends to push all terrestrial objects towards Earth
who agrees with Descartes planetary system? - -Newton agreed with Descartes theory
until he solved Halley's problem and then gave up Descartes' theory
why was Descartes' theory of the planetary system popular? - -- because it was
mechanical
- vortex theory was taught everywhere
inertia for Descartes (he was credited with inertia) - -each thing remains in same state, if
moving will stay moving, if still will stay still unless there is a disturbance
plenum - -cosmos as a plenum
- space filled completely with matter
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