Skip to main content

How simple ideas lead to scientific discoveries - Adam Savage

  • 3,031,018 Views
  • 68,821 Questions Answered
  • TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

Adam Savage walks through two spectacular examples of profound scientific discoveries that came from simple, creative methods anyone could have followed -- Eratosthenes' calculation of the Earth's circumference around 200 BC and Hippolyte Fizeau's measurement of the speed of light in 1849.

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

Additional Resources for you to Explore
Armand Fizeau is also famous for his experiment measuring the speed of light through water; the experiment definitively discredited Isaac Newton’s theory that light is composed of small, discrete particles that travel at a finite velocity and possess kinetic energy (the corpuscle theory of light). Research Newton’s theory and Fizeau’s experiment. Then investigate a modern-day application of controlling and manipulating the speed of light—quantum computers—by watching a “Physics for the 21st Century” video from Annenberg Media at http://www.learner.org/courses/physics/unit/unit_vid.html?unit=7.

Customize this lesson

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

More from Inventions that Shape History