Benjamin Franklin's most outstanding inventions are the lightning rod, the Franjlin furnace, bifocal lenses, humidifier, odometer, glass harmonica and diving lenses.
Benjamin Franklin - diplomat, scientist, inventor, writer - a man of many trades, knowledge and immeasurable wisdom, collaborated in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, and is therefore considered one of the founding fathers of the nation. Negotiated, in 1783, the Treaty of Paris [2] , Which ended the Revolutionary War. In addition, he received the honorary title of"first citizen of century XVIII". [3]
His scientific research covered topics such as electricity, the field of mathematics and cartography or medicine. As a writer, he was characterized by his witty and witty pen and among other texts, published The almanac of Ricardo the poor [4] .
The inventions of Benjamín Franklin
The lightning rod
From his studies of electricity, Franklin concluded that:"Electricity is a positive charge flowing counteracting the negative." These experiments led him to claim that storms were an electrical phenomenon. Then he invented the lightning rod.
For the verification of his theory he used the famous Kite experiment, In France (1752), using a barrel supported by metal wire attached to a silk thread [7] .
Theory of the unique fluid
Franklin determined that there are three types of loading in bodies. The modern conception of the constitution of matter specifies that atoms are agglomerations of particles that have a certain charge.
- Electrons have a negative electric charge.
- The protons charge positive electric.
- Neutrons that have no electric charge.
Franklin Furnace or Fireplace Pennsylvania
Franklin rectified the traditional and unsafe method of heating, inventing the iron stove.
The new design generated safety and efficiency, avoiding fires and consuming less firewood. [9]
Bifocal lenses
Franklin began to lose the vision of very young. Avid reader, tired of switching between two pairs of glasses (to see closely and to see from afar).
So he cut the lenses of both pairs in half, then put half of each lens into a single frame, thus inventing bifocal lenses.
Humidifier
Benjamin Franklin created the humidifier, a device used to raise humidity. When installed in stoves and fireplaces, it counteracts the dryness of the environment.
Kilometers account
In 1775 Franklin, as Postmaster of Pennsylvania, and for To improve the routes of the mailmen, he left with his carriage to measure the distances that had to cross. There arose his idea to invent an apparatus to measure the distances covered, base of the current odometer.
Flexible urinary catheter
It consists of a small tube that is inserted into the patient's bladder through the urethra. The catheterization allows the patient to urinate freely without obstructions. He invented it to treat his brother John's painful urinary calculations.
Crystal Harmonica
The crystal harmonica is an instrument idiofono (of the Greek,"own sound"), since it produces the sound by the vibration of the own body. Benjamin Franklin's glass harmonica is the result of an automation for the playing of the musical game played by Franklin in 1762, after witnessing in Cambridge (England) a concert of wine glasses filled with water touched by the English Edward Delaval (1729-1814). [eleven]
He described the ocean currents, especially the Gulf Stream
Although the Gulf Stream was already known, Franklin was the first to publish detailed descriptions and maps of the Gulf Stream in his 1786 work, Sundry Maritime Observations.
In his writings he also makes observations on methods of ship propulsion, helmet designs, causes of disasters at sea, anchors and the well-being of seafarers on the high seas.
Gulf Stream. Map of Franklin
Diving fins
Franklin designed the fins with wood (non-hydrodynamic material). Although the design did meet all the characteristics. Currently made of silicones. In 1968 Benjamin Franklin was installed in the"International Swimming Hall"of fame.
[1] N. January 17, 1706, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. - M. April 17, 1790, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. His brilliant career earned him, at the age of 50, a member of the Royal Society, the Academy of Sciences of Paris, where it was difficult to be accepted if he was not of French nationality.
1 The Treaty of Paris was signed on 03/09/1793 between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the United States and ended the War of Independence of the United States. It was signed by David Hartley, a member of the United Kingdom Parliament representing King George III, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, representatives of the United States. The treaty was ratified by the Congress of the Confederation, 14 of January of 1784 and by the British the 9 of April of 1784.
[3] Benjamin Franklin Biography . Biography.com Editors: The Biography.com website. Retrieved on 1/5/2017 at biography.com.
[4] Franklin wrote and published The Richard Poor Almanac In 1732, under the pseudonym of Richard Saunders; For 25 years, it sold nearly 10,000 copies annually. In his autobiography, Franklin wrote:"I considered it an appropriate vehicle for transmitting instruction among ordinary people who barely bought other books." Librarycompany.org/.
[5] Getty Images. Retrieved 6/1/2017 at science.howstuffworks.com.
[6] Science, how does stuff work. Retrieved 6/1/2017 at science.howstuffworks.com.
[7] The Franklin Institute. Retrieved on 1/5/2017 at fi.edu/history-resources.
[8] Lucero, J (teacher at IES). Recovered on 1/7/2017 on slideshare.net.
[9] Franklin stove. Retrieved on 6/1/2017 at ideafinder.com.
[10] Briones Barbero, S. How do our glasses work? Collection What do we know of? CSIC Blog, retrieved 7/1/2017 in blogs.20minutos.es.
[eleven] The Crystal harmonica Consists of a series of glass bowls of different sizes superimposed and aligned horizontally, crossed by a shaft connected by a belt to a pedal that makes them turn while playing, like an old sewing machine, wetting the fingers slightly and touching The bowls as they spin, producing a crystalline sound. He currently has a record of four octaves.
[12] Ocean explorer. Retrieved on 7/1/2017 at famousscientists.org.
References
- Benjamin Franklin, His Autobiography: 1706-1757. The cornerstone of the Harvard Classics and Franklin's account of his journey of self-education. From the Harvard Classics , Vol. I, Part 1.