Research Catalog

Title

Groundbreaking scientific experiments, inventions and discoveries of the 18th century / Jonathan Shectman.

Author

Shectman, Jonathan, 1972-

Publication

Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, c2003.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

xlviii, 317 p. : ill.; 25 cm.

Summary

"The 18th century saw the emergence of the industrial and chemical revolutions and witnessed the near-universal acceptance of applied science. It was a time of revolutionary, lasting transformation for the practice of science and mathematics. Most procedures and precepts of modern science took hold during the 18th century, when scientists first paired scientific research with practical application to astonishing results." "In over 60 alphabetical entries, Shectman examines the tremendous scientific discoveries, inventions, and inquiries of the period. Familiar topics such as the steam engine and hot air balloon are covered, along with lesser-known topics such as the Watt copy press and Newton's experimentum cruces. A thorough discussion of each entry's scientific impact provides readers with an understanding of the lasting social and political importance of these advancements. Narratives enrich the entries by adding context and perspective to the century's fascinating scientific history. Students and researchers will find this reference book easy to use. Included are an appendix of entries listed by scientific field, a glossary of terms, and indexes by name and subject."--Jacket.

Series Statement

Groundbreaking scientific experiments, inventions, and discoveries through the ages

Uniform Title

Groundbreaking scientific experiments, inventions, and discoveries through the ages.

Alternative Title

Groundbreaking scientific experiments, inventions & discoveries of the 18th century

Subjects

• History
• Technology > History > 18th century
• Science > History > 18th century

Genre/Form

History

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

• Animal physiology and experimental pathology -- Animal respiration obtains oxygen and eliminates carbon dioxide -- Atmospheric composition is constant -- Ballistic pendulum and physics of spinning projectiles -- Balloon flight -- Binary system -- Calculus of finite differences and differential equations -- Carbon dioxide is a distinct gas -- Charles's law of gases -- Chemical cells can store usable electricity -- Chlorine is a distinct gas that can be easily produced in a laboratory -- Citrus prevents scurvy -- Comets follow predictable orbits, cycles, and returns -- Corpuscular model of light and color -- Cotton gin -- Coulomb's law -- Digestion is primarily a chemical process -- Discovery of hydrogen -- Electrical conductors and insulators -- Electricity can produce light -- Electricity is of two types: positive and negative -- Farmer's Almanac -- Franklin's electrical researches, discoveries and inventions -- Franklin's practical household inventions --^
• Heat is a form of energy, not the element caloric -- Hydrodynamics -- Hydrogen is an element -- Immunization prevents smallpox -- Latent and specific heat -- Law of conservation of mass -- Metric system of measurement -- Microscopic organisms reproduce, rather than spontaneously generate -- Milky Way is a lens-shaped distribution of stars -- Modern dentistry -- Modern encyclopedia -- Modern entomology and the "history" of insects -- Navigational quadrant (octant and sextant) -- Newtonian black holes or "dark stars" are devoid of light -- Optical and mechanical telegraphs -- Oxygen is an element that supports combustion -- Phlogiston (or the first reasonable, rational theory of chemistry) -- Plant physiology is independent of animal physiology -- Plants use sunlight to absorb gas, and they reproduce through insect pollination -- Priestly's chemical experiments, discoveries, and inventions -- Principle of least action -- Proper motion of the stars and sun through space --^
• Proust's law of constant proportions -- Rational system of chemical nomenclature -- Scientific morphology and taxonomy of animals and plants -- Spinning machines -- Steamboat -- Steam engine -- Stellar aberration and speed of light -- Substances fall into one of two distinct chemical categories: elements or compounds -- Thermometry instruments and scales -- Three "primary" colors are sufficient to produce all others -- Uranus is a planet -- Venus has an atmosphere -- Water is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen -- Weaving machines -- "Weighing" the world by measuring gravitational constant wet transfer copying process (a.k.a. copying press).

ISBN

0313320152 (alk. paper)

LCCN

^^2002075306

OCLC

50004002

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library