Final answer:
Newton's model of the universe was revolutionary for its time, presenting a mathematically predictable framework with the universal law of gravitation at its core. This model explained both terrestrial physics and celestial phenomena, establishing a heliocentric view and providing the groundwork for modern physics, contrary to the steady-state cosmology of the 1950s and 1960s.
Step-by-step explanation:
Newton's Model of the Universe
Sir Isaac Newton, a pivotal figure in the Scientific Revolution, presented a scientific-based model of the universe that redefined our understanding of the cosmos in his seminal work, Philosophia Naturalis Principia Mathematica, published in 1687. Prior to Newton, the prevalent model was the geocentric Ptolemaic view with Earth at its center. Newton, following the Copernican heliocentric model, introduced the universal law of gravitation, which explained both terrestrial movements and the orbits of heavenly bodies such as moons, planets, and comets using mathematical principles. The key to his universe was the predictive nature of his laws and the underlying forces such as gravity that governed the motion and structure of everything from a falling apple to the paths of planets. Newton's insights paved the way for a better understanding of the universe, eschewing theological interpretations in favor of empirical observation and mathematical reasoning.
New matter was not a concept in Newton's universe, which is in contrast to the steady-state model that emerged in the 1950s and 1960s, proposing the continued creation of matter to account for the expanding universe. Today, the steady-state theory has been largely set aside with evidence such as the cosmic background radiation and the redshift of distant galaxies supporting the Big Bang theory, which suggests that the universe has a dynamic and evolving state rather than being in a steady, unchanged condition as implied by the steady-state universe.