Benjamin Franklin Physics
“Teach me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I understand.” – Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Franklin was raised in a poverty. He nourished himself with literature when he was just a kid, and worked for his brother as a printer at the age of 17. When he left his brother to open his own printing press, he became so successful that he retired at the age of 42! This allowed him to focus on his love for science. Franklin was a polymath (in other words, he was many things)—an author, printer, politician, scientist, musician, inventor, and much, much more. He made significant contributions to many fields. However, he is probably best known for his work in science, especially in electricity and the physics of electricity. For the areas of science in which he worked, he is known for his studies in the theory of electricity and his useful inventions. These include the Franklin stove, bifocal eyeglasses, the lightning rod, and daylight savings time.
One of Franklin's greatest claims to fame was his work in electricity. He carried out experiments with the Leyden jar, sent a current through water to ignite alcohol, made the first battery, ignited gunpowder, and much, much more (Bellis). He even charged wine glasses so the drinkers would receive shocks! More importantly though, he began to develop the theory of the relationship between lightning and electricity; he brought up the idea of protecting buildings by using iron rods. In the summer of 1752, he performed the famous kite experiment, where he drew down electricity from the sky by charging a Leyden jar from the key at the end of the string. Franklin stated that "electricity is a single electrical 'fluid'" (electrons) "that may be transferred between bodies". He said the total quantity of the "fluid" is always conserved. This is a concept known today as one of the fundamental natural law—the conservation of electrical charge (Timeline 1750-1774).
Inspired by Du Fay (Charles-Francois de Cisternay Du Fay),
One of Franklin's greatest claims to fame was his work in electricity. He carried out experiments with the Leyden jar, sent a current through water to ignite alcohol, made the first battery, ignited gunpowder, and much, much more (Bellis). He even charged wine glasses so the drinkers would receive shocks! More importantly though, he began to develop the theory of the relationship between lightning and electricity; he brought up the idea of protecting buildings by using iron rods. In the summer of 1752, he performed the famous kite experiment, where he drew down electricity from the sky by charging a Leyden jar from the key at the end of the string. Franklin stated that "electricity is a single electrical 'fluid'" (electrons) "that may be transferred between bodies". He said the total quantity of the "fluid" is always conserved. This is a concept known today as one of the fundamental natural law—the conservation of electrical charge (Timeline 1750-1774).
Inspired by Du Fay (Charles-Francois de Cisternay Du Fay),