Skill 2.3. Historical Perspectives

Science is an ongoing process. There was a time when microscopes, telescopes, calculators, and computers did not exist. Their current availability has led to many discoveries. We have had the opportunity to investigate why people become sick, and the mechanisms responsible for their illnesses. We have also broadened our knowledge of physical science- the laws that govern the universe. 

With each new breakthrough we either build upon current knowledge, or if the new piece doesn t work with previous thoughts, we reevaluate the validity of all of the information, past and present. For this reason, models and theories are continuously evolving. 

Newton s concept of gravity held until the beginning of the 20th century, when Einstein proposed his general theory of relativity. The key to Einstein s version is that inertia occurs when objects are in free-fall instead of when they are at rest. The theory of general relativity has been well accepted because of how its predictions have been repeatedly confirmed. 

A paradigm shift is a change in the underlying assumptions that define a particular scientific theory. Scientific advances, such as increased technology allowing different or more reliable data collection, sometimes result in paradigm shifts in scientific theories. 

One classic example of a scientific paradigm shift is the transition from a geocentric (Earth-centered) to heliocentric (Sun-centered) model of the universe. Invention and development of the telescope allowed for greater observation of the planets and the Sun. The theory that the Sun is the center of the universe around which the planets, including the Earth, rotate gained acceptance largely because of the advances in observational technology. 

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