The Robert Hooke's contributions To the world of science, have positioned him as one of the most important and representative English scientists in the history of man.
Robert Hooke was a man who worked and innovated in the fields of mechanics, gravitation, paleontology, microscopy, astronomy and the dynamics of time.
Robert Hooke
Hooke was born in Freshwater in 1635, and died in London 67 years later, in 1703. His most representative researches were made during different stages of his life, in which he lived in the most diverse conditions, coming to grips with other contemporary scientists For the merit of their discoveries.
It is considered along with other contemporary scientists as Isaac Newton , Christopher Wren and Edmond Halley; Has been regarded as a contentious character because of the controversies that arose from attributing ideas that were not always his.
The best reference of the life of Hooke (today does not survive a single portrait of the English), is in an autobiographical work begun in 1696 and that never was completed.
Some of his contributions may be mentioned in the work of other scientists or researchers, such as Richard Waller.
Robert Hooke's outstanding contributions
Microscopy and Micrography
Robert Hooke is exalted in the fields of science and biology For being the first person to observe and describe a cell, as well as other large numbers of microscopic elements and organisms.
The result of this research was the work by which he was most admired: Micrography, or some physiological descriptions of the tiny bodies made by magnifying crystals, published in 1665.
In this work he managed to expose to the scientific world a universe of the tiny, more populated and internally structured than could be imagined.
During this period of his work, Hooke worked with his own version of a microscope for the time.
He was known for manufacturing many of the instruments he used for his research.
Sound frequencies
Hooke, during his lifetime, was also interested in the study of intangible but perceptible physical phenomena.
The sound was one of these, allowing Hooke to demonstrate that a tone is determined by the frequency of sound source vibrations; A direct relationship between a stimulus and the sensation produced.
Hooke's experiment consisted in striking a carton with a cogwheel at a constant speed.
As the speed increases or decreases, the wheel in contact with the carton would produce higher or lower sounds.
Law of elasticity of bodies
Also known as Hooke's Law, it was first published, enigmatically, in 1678.
Hooke had time working with different thin and long bodies, measuring the level at which they were broken.
During an assignment they were asked to observe the point of flexion of the object before breaking, which led Hooke to establish the levels of elasticity under force.
For fear that their secrets were divulged and attributed to other people, Hooke published his advances in a very jealous way, using anagrams to explain to his theories.
Architecture and topography
The great fire suffered by the city of London in 1666 led Hooke to engage in architectural and urban work to undertake the reconstruction of the English capital.
After the incident, he was in charge of carrying out the topographic registration of multiple parcels and urban spaces.
This stage of his life shared with the implementation of his knowledge in engineering and, along with Christopher Wren, carried out several projects that have positioned them as references in the civil engineering schemes of the time.
Mechanics and Engineering
Hooke approached research and mechanical practice as a result of his work on the formulation of the law of elasticity of bodies.
Although there are few sources that link directly with the manufacture of some element or technique in the field of engineering, it is close to the study of nodes patterns in glass plates and the conception of the spring.
After the great fire of London, Hooke was in charge of the reconstruction of the alignments and traces of the old streets and buildings following its original plan.
Paleontology
Because of his microscopic investigations, Hooke was able to identify a series of fossils whose preservation was benefited by his contact with water.
Through the study of these fossils, Hooke was able to unveil the importance of these to generate a better notion of the years of existence of the fossil element.
These tests allowed Hooke to fight against the scientific hermeticism of the moment, which rejected extinction, ignoring the vestiges of species found around the world, and which proved to be the clearest sign of the processes of extinction under natural causes.
Astronomy
In the field of astronomy, Hooke sought to focus primarily on measuring distances between Earth and stars (other than the Sun ).
Despite having acknowledged having the results by then, it is estimated that Hooke's calculations may have been imprecise.
During his years in astronomy, Hooke was able to observe and illustrate spatial phenomena such as star clusters and lunar craters.
It is claimed that Hooke was among the first to observe Saturn's ring system, as well as to identify one of the earliest star systems of two or more nearby stars.
Instruments
As mentioned above, Hooke was known for manufacturing many of the instruments he used; Not only that, but also was able to achieve a high level of fidelity and effectiveness in the results and measurements thrown by their implements.
Hooke was able to create his own microscope , Capable of magnifying the object observed up to about 30 times.
It is also attributed the invention of the spring and iris diaphragm, an element used to date in photographic mechanisms.
References
- Addis, B. (2013). The contributions of Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke to the birth of modern construction engineering. Eighth National Congress of Construction History (Pages 1-11). Madrid: Juan de Herrera Institute.
- Bennett, J., Cooper, M., Hunter, M., & Jardine, L. (2003). London's Leonardo: the life and work of Robert Hooke. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Bryson, B. (2008). A short history of almost everything. Barcelona: RBA Books.
- Chapman, A. (2004). England's Leonardo: Robert Hooke and the Seventeenth-Century Scientific Revolution. CRC Press.
- Lanfranconi, M. (s.f.). History of microscopy. National University of Mar del Plata.
- Stolik, D. (2008). Contributions of the physicists to the development of music. 100 UNED , 83-90.