Question

Which of the following paragraphs contains the STRONGEST evidence that Copernicus used the scientific method in his approach to studying the solar system?

(A ) Copemicus wants answers 'concerning the paths of the heavenly bodies meaning the movements of the planets. He first wrote that philosophers had no answer for the movements in that Universe which the best and most perfect Architect had made for us.
(B) He then decided to read the writings of all the philosophers on the subjectCopemicus discovered Nicetas, a Byzantine bishop who wrote about religious topics, had thought that the Earth moves.
(C) Copemicus also read Plutarch, a Greek biographer and historian, through whom he discovered that some others also had been of this opinion
(D) Copemicus was looking to explain how the Universe is structured and how the planets and stars move and rotate. He says that he started by looking at traditional mathematical doctrine to see how math explained the rotation pattern of the planets.

Answer 1

Paragraph (D) provides the strongest evidence that Copernicus used the scientific method by demonstrating his empirical and mathematical approach to understanding planetary rotations in the solar system.

Step-by-step explanation:

The strongest evidence that Nicolaus Copernicus used the scientific method in his approach to studying the solar system is found in paragraph (D). This paragraph details how Copernicus started by examining existing mathematical doctrines to understand the rotation patterns of the planets, indicative of an empirical and systematic approach. By utilizing mathematical analysis rather than relying solely on philosophical traditions or divine revelation, Copernicus aligned his studies with the application of the scientific method, which involves observation, hypothesis, and testing.

During the Renaissance, the scientific method began to gain more traction against traditional philosophical reasoning. While the geocentric model defended by Aristotle and the Catholic Church went unchallenged for centuries, Copernicus moved towards evidence-based reasoning. This is exemplified by his heliocentric model that placed the Sun, not the Earth, at the center of the solar system, which was later supported by astronomers like Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler, and Galileo Galilei.

Copernicus's work ultimately paved the way for future scientific exploration and discoveries, making an indelible mark on the history of science and challenging established doctrines with a methodical approach grounded in observation and mathematics.