In 2012, two Ukrainian students invented gloves that convert sign language into speech. The gloves have special sensors that turn the signs into texts on a smartphone that also turns the texts into speech. This invention caught my attention because I never used to believe that signs could turn into speech.
This invention will impact the participation of people with speech problems in the activities of society. They will be able to participate in business conferences and will be more productive in the workplace. It does not affect me directly, but I have some family members who will benefit from this invention. I believe it has the potential for improvement because the inventors were only students. They will find more time to refine it and even include the reverse process: where the smartphone can decode what other people say for the people with speech problems.
Advantages
It helps improve the level of participation of the speech-impaired in daily activities.
It is very cheap
It does not require new skills other than simply showing the user how to use the gloves and the smartphone.
Disadvantage
May does not reach all people with speech problems since some people in some countries cannot afford smartphones and special gloves.
The inspiration for the 1872 motion picture originated from an argument between racing enthusiasts in California who wondered whether the four hooves of a galloping horse left the ground concurrently. However, there was a challenge because no enthusiasts could answer the question accurately, given that horses raise their legs very fast. One of the racing enthusiasts named Stanford decided to use science to answer the unsupported transit puzzle by hiring a photographer to take a picture of a galloping horse. At the time, Eadweard had been in San Francisco since 1855, practicing his career in photography (Daigle 112). The photograph intended to assess whether it would unravel the puzzle by demonstrating the sequence followed in raising the hooves. In addition, the photographs would play a key role in enabling Stanford, a horse owner, to understand their motion behavior. Horse racing enthusiasts would also enhance their horse training to be much better if they understood how they get into motion.
Eadweard worked with John Isaacs to develop a technology they would use to take photos of galloping horses. The first task was to ensure that the image would have no blur to enhance clarity. Together, the two developers improved the film processing in their cameras. Another invention the two developers made was improving the camera’s speed. They managed to create a shutter to take one image at a speed of 1/1000 seconds (Daigle 112). Finally, Eadweard and Isaac developed an electric trigger that they would use to release the camera shutter to capture the image. Using this advanced camera technology, Eadweard captured a picture of a horse, Occident, in motion with all its four hooves in the air. Hence, the picture verified the unsupported transit theory that the horse racing enthusiasts argued about.
The Inventors
Eadweard Muybridge
Eadweard was given the name Edward James Muggeridge by his parents and was born on 9th April 1830 in an English village known as Kingston upon Thames. In 1855, Eadweard left his village and went to San Francisco, California, intending to pursue his career in photography. He changed his surname three times in California, where he began with “Muygridge” and “Muybridge” before settling for Eadweard (Daigle 112). It is said that he settled for Eadweard in honor of the British King. He led a successful career in photography, having been the photographer for the first motion picture of Occident. He used photographs to create an illusion of motion in 1978 (Daigle 114). He used 12 stereotypic cameras that he placed 21 inches apart along a horse track and managed to capture 24 photographs, which he used to create the illusion (Daigle 115). He made the first public demo of motion pictures at the California School of Fine Arts in 1880.
John Isaacs
John Isaac played a key role in helping Eadweard to develop a technology used to take the first motion picture of a galloping horse. Besides being a horse racing enthusiast, John worked at Southern Pacific Railroad as an engineer. That explains why it was easy for him to collaborate with Eadweard to create an electric trigger for the state-art camera. However, there are allegations that John’s commitment to take the first picture of a horse in motion was to prove whether Stanford’s unsupported transit theory was true. Stanford and John had placed a bet worth $25,000 on the issue (Daigle 114). Hence, the money at stake explains the determination demonstrated by either of the two parties in ensuring that taking a picture in motion was successful. Isaac lost the bet because the pictures proved that Stanford’s theory was true because the photographs captured a galloping horse’s four hooves in midair. There are no details about John Isaac’s personal life besides his involvement in the development of an advanced camera used to capture pictures in motion.
Work Cited
Daigle, Allain. “Not a Betting Man: Stanford, Muybridge, and the Palo Alto Wager Myth.” Film History, vol. 29, no. 4, 2017, p. 112-115.
Nikola Tesla is a famous Serbian-American physicist, engineer, and inventor of the 19th and 20th centuries. Tesla is well-known for the invention of alternating current motor and investigation of wireless power transmission. He was among scientists who created the fundament for many modern technologies. Tesla can be considered one of the greatest inventors of his time whose studies and discoveries influenced the development of various spheres, including not only the world of science but also the everyday life of people. This paper will discuss the most notable achievements of Nikola Tesla and his vision of the future and provide criticism of his work.
Many researchers recognize the invaluable contribution that Tesla made to science. Lomas, for instance, calls him “the man who invented the twentieth century” and “genius of electricity” (qtd. in Hadzigeorgiou et al. 1122). There is evidence that his contemporaries also recognized his talent. For instance, in the International Electrical Congress, Tesla was introduced as “the Wizard of Physics” (Klein 321). In this Congress, when Tesla demonstrated some of his inventions and discoveries, including the rotating magnetic field and the “continuous-wave radio transmitter,” “the audience showered him with applause” (Klein 321). These and other inventions of Tesla will be discussed further, representing the importance of his contribution to the world of science.
Alternating Current
The most significant achievements of the genius of electricity are connected with alternating current (AC). Tesla became the first who believed in the possibility of using AC. The scientist designed an AC system of electric power transmission. He invented the elements for this system in 1887 in his laboratory (Roguin, p. 371). To prove the safety of alternating current, Tesla also showed the experiment where he “lighted lamps without wires by allowing electricity to flow through his body” (Roguin, p. 371). In the heart of an AC system was the polyphase induction motor.
Tesla discovered the rotating magnetic field that became a key element for his induction motor. Tesla’s polyphase system is used nowadays, allowing generating and transmitting electricity (Vujic et al, p. 2). As Vujic et al. note, the updated versions of Tesla’s motors made it possible to convert electricity into mechanical power (p. 2). Thus, one may agree that Tesla’s induction motor became one of his most significant inventions.
It is interesting to discuss that Tesla’s AC system led to the event in the history of the scientific and commercial world called the war of the currents. Another famous scientist of that time, Thomas Edison negatively reacted to Tesla’s ideas. Edison’s company was promoting direct current (DC) and was trying to prevent the spread of AC technologies. As Vujic et al. point out, Edison’s company “invented the electric chair to frighten people away from the use of Tesla’s AC system of electricity” (p. 3). Nevertheless, the war of the currents was won by an AC system.
The Westinghouse Corporation bought Tesla’s patents on AC technologies. As Roguin notes, “the future of industrial development in the United States” was at stake, and this war of the currents became very important in this context (p. 372). An AC system proved its advantages, as it required less cost and turned out to be more effective for power transmission over long distances. In 1893, the Westinghouse Corporation got a contract for building the power plant at Niagara Falls with the usage of generators created by Tesla (Vujic et al, p. 3). After the Niagara project, the power was carried to Buffalo city. According to Roguin, these events “proved the workability of Tesla’s polyphase system of AC” (p. 372). As a result, an alternating current system of electricity started to be used widely, carrying power to people’s houses throughout the world.
Wireless Power Transmission
For a long time, Tesla was working on wireless transmission of energy. His studies of alternating current led him to the invention of the Tesla coil. It is an electrical resonant transformer, producing high-voltage, high-frequency AC electricity. Variations of Tesla coils are still used in radio and television (Roguin, p. 372). Pawade et al. note that Tesla proved himself to be a “Father of Wireless” (p. 382). In 1891, he showed wireless transmission of electrical energy over small distances with the help of the coils (Pawade et al, p. 382). In 1893, “Tesla demonstrated the illumination of vacuum bulbs without using wires for power transmission” (Pawade et al, p. 382). Thus, Tesla can be called a pioneer in the sphere of wireless technologies. When being able to transfer energy wirelessly over small distances, he also started to dream about larger scales, which will be discussed later.
Remote Control
Tesla also can be considered the scientist who invented the remote control. In 1898, he presented the radio-controlled robot boat (Vujic et al, p. 3). As Vujic et al. note, “this invention was so far ahead of its time that those who observed it could not imagine its practical applications” (p. 3). Thus, it proves that Tesla had a certain vision of the future. It is possible to agree that this vision often was misunderstood or perceived more like a magical one rather than scientific by his contemporaries.
X-ray Investigation
Another significant but often forgotten discovery made by Tesla is connected with x-rays. As Hrabak et al. point out, Tesla’s name is rarely associated with this field of studies (p. 1189). However, in 1894, when x-rays were not discovered and named yet, he started to investigate this phenomenon. Tesla, as researchers note, was the first in the USA to obtain the x-ray image (Hrabak et al, p. 1190). As was already mentioned, it happened prior to the official discovery of x-ray made by Wilhelm Röntgen in 1895. Later, Tesla sent x-ray images of the human body to Röntgen who congratulated him, “wondering how he had achieved such impressive results” (Hrabak et al, p. 1190). According to Hrabak et al., Tesla also “described some clinical benefits of x-rays — for example, determination of foreign body position and detection of lung diseases” (p. 1190). Unfortunately, many of Tesla’s papers about the x-ray investigation were lost because of the fire in his laboratory in 1895 (Hrabak et al, p. 1191). Probably, this event has led to the fact that Tesla’s contribution to this field is often forgotten.
Tesla’s Vision of the Future
It is also worth mentioning some of Tesla’s ideas that he was not able to realize due to limitations of possibilities or money and misunderstanding of his contemporaries. Tesla himself told that he worked for the future, not the present (qtd. in Vujic et al, p. 4). If returning to wireless technologies, it is worth to discuss Tesla’s dreams about the creation of a worldwide wireless system for the transmission of power. In 1900, Tesla started to build Wardenclyffe Tower that was to become the first wireless telecommunications tower for non-commercial transatlantic telephony, broadcasting, and demonstration of wireless power transmission (Roguin, p. 373). Unfortunately, in 1903, the project was stopped due to the financial problems and the lack of support (Roguin, p. 373). Nevertheless, one may agree that this tower became a brave invention demonstrating Tesla’s vision of the future. Roguin notes that Tesla’s tower can be considered “the first infant step toward the Internet, global positioning satellites, the atomic clock, and wireless communications” (p. 373). Apart from wireless technologies, Tesla was working on ideas in other spheres.
Some of his inventions were also aimed at military purposes. In 1928, Tesla patented vertical takeoff aircraft (VTOL) that was combining features of helicopter and airplane (Vujic et al, p. 4). Although he had never built it, “VTOLs are in military use today” (Vujic et al, p. 4). In addition, Tesla was working on a beam weapon project. He tried to make an agreement with the British and Soviet government on the usage of this weapon and also attempted to negotiate with the U.S. government (Carlson, p. 338). It is worth noting that Tesla’s ideas about weapon creation were aimed at the achievement of peace and less war loses.
These are just a few of Tesla’s plans that were not completed or realized. As Roguin notes, although some of his studies remained only on the paper, they are “still examined by engineers for unexploited clues” (p. 373). According to Vujic et al., Tesla’s vision of the future also relates to many modern technologies, including computers, radar, robotics, television broadcasting and others (2). However, despite his brilliant mind, Tesla’s thoughts also were imperfect at times, which will be discussed further.
Criticism of Tesla’s Work
Of course, even such a genius as Nikola Tesla had failures. His contemporaries became disappointed in Tesla when he did not manage to complete some of his inventions. In 1903, Hawkins wrote that ten years ago, Tesla was considered “an electrician of greatest promise,” but now “his name provokes at best a regret that so great a promise should have been unfulfilled” (qtd. in Carlson, p. 6). This criticism was mainly connected with Tesla’s researches for wireless power transmission.
As was mentioned above, Tesla was dreaming about completing his Wardenclyffe Tower. Unfortunately, even if the project had not been abandoned, the tower would not have worked the way Tesla imagined it. He incorrectly considered that the Earth could be used for the conduction of energy. Due to some of his experiments, Tesla was sure that he could “tap the Earth’s electrical energy” (Carlson, p. 211). He assumed he could broadcast power around the globe “by pumping electrical oscillation into the ground at the Earth’s resonant frequency” (Carlson, p. 211). However, even some of his contemporaries saw the impossibility of this idea. Michael Pupin, professor of Columbia University, criticized Tesla’s tower from the point of view of engineering. He stated that until Tesla could provide engineering specifications for transmitting signals through the Earth, he denied believing in this project (qtd. in Carlson, p. 336). This criticism was also given in the context of Marconi’s work who, in the eyes of many, became a true inventor of a wireless system.
When talking about Tesla and Marconi, it is also interesting to discuss the invention of the radio and debates following it. Some researchers note that Tesla can be considered the one who invented the radio (Vujic et al, p. 3, Pawade et al, p. 382). Carlson believes, however, that Tesla “sure got it wrong with radio” (p. 6). As Carlson notes, Tesla indeed was the first to investigate electromagnetic waves “to appreciate the importance of grounding the transmitter and receiver” (p. 141). In addition, some of Tesla’s findings were used and modified by Marconi later (Carlson, p. 141). However, one may agree that further research would not lead Tesla to the invention of the radio.
Tesla’s work was aimed at the different direction of more advanced technologies. According to Carlson, Tesla was not “interested in creating a communication system” (p. 141). He was dreaming about delivering light and power wirelessly. Marconi, in turn, wanted to create a device for wireless communication. In addition, as Carlson notes, Tesla was more “curious about the current that passed through the Earth” and not waves radiating through space (p. 141). It is worth noting that Tesla was trying to prove the advantages of his system over Marconi’s, mocking him in press (Carlson, p. 337). However, taking into account Carlson’s arguments, it is possible to agree that Tesla’s investigation was directed to a different sphere that would lead him away from the radio. Nevertheless, it does not reduce Tesla’s contribution to the development of a wireless communication system.
Conclusion
One may conclude that Tesla indeed proved himself to be the genius of electricity and made great steps for developing science. He became a pioneer of alternating current and wireless technologies, and some of his inventions are used or modified nowadays. He also achieved impressive results in other spheres, including, for instance, the investigation of x-rays and remote control system. It is possible to agree that Tesla stands out among many scientists due to his aspiration for the future. Although he, like all people, made mistakes and some of his ideas were imperfect, his contribution to science is invaluable.
Works Cited
Carlson, W. Bernard. Tesla: Inventor of the Electrical Age. Princeton University Press, 2015.
Hadzigeorgiou, Yannis, et al. “Encouraging a “Romantic Understanding” of Science: The Effect of the Nikola Tesla Story.” Science & Education, vol. 21, no. 8, 2012, pp. 1111–1138.
Hrabak, Maja, et al. “Nikola Tesla and the Discovery of X-rays.” RadioGraphics, vol. 28, no. 4, 2008, 1189–1192.
Klein, Maury. The Power Makers: Steam, Electricity, and the Men Who Invented Modern America. Bloomsbury Press, 2008.
Pawade, Sourabh, et al. “Goodbye Wires: Approach to Wireless Power Transmission.” International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering, vol. 2, no. 4, 2012, pp. 382–387.
Roguin, Ariel. “Nikola Tesla: The Man Behind the Magnetic Field Unit.” Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging: An Official Journal of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, vol. 19, no. 3, 2004, pp. 369–374.
Vujic, Jasmina, et al. “Nikola Tesla: 145 Years of Visionary Ideas.” 5th International Conference on Telecommunications in Modern Satellite, Cable and Broadcasting Service. TELSIKS 2001. Proceedings of Papers (Cat. No. 01EX517), vol. 1, 2001, pp. 2–5.
One can safely say that dynamite is one of the significant and decisive technological inventions between the early 19th and 20th centuries. Dynamite is a “blasting explosive, patented in 1867 by the Swedish physicist Alfred Nobel” (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, n.d., para. 1). Nobel developed it as a solution to the extreme instability and sensitivity of nitroglycerin (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, n.d.). These two shortcomings of nitroglycerin posed a great danger and life-threatening risk to the construction workers and miners who worked with it in the 19th century. Although the attitude of the scientist and his intentions in developing dynamite were pacifistic, this new technology had both a huge positive influence and a tremendous negative impact on the societal, political, and economic spheres of various countries, and this paper will discuss this topic.
Dynamite and Politics
The duality of the impact of the invention of dynamite is present in each of the three major civilizational areas mentioned above. It was a technical novelty that both techno-optimists and techno-pessimists of those times have been right about. The first are people who praise innovation and technological progress, and the second are those who are skeptical or even hostile about these things (Winston & Edelbach, 2013). The positive political outcome of dynamite came after the negative one. It is the law of war established by humankind after it saw the horrors of war in the form of grenades, bombs, and mines that used stabilized nitroglycerin. For example, international military law prohibits cluster bombs and land mines, saving hundreds of thousands of civilian and military lives and preventing them from being severely injured (Pike, 2022). The negative impact of dynamite is the increased ferocity of warfare and the larger scale of destruction that came along with new weapons such as long-range artillery and air bombs that Nobel indirectly helped to invent.
Dynamite and Society
When discussing society, the effect of dynamite technology on it is also two-sided. Safe nitroglycerin has allowed people to accelerate the process of industrialization in many countries significantly. People managed to expand health care, education, and public transport infrastructures in a short period. However, dynamite also radicalized various social groups and their political struggle and urban confrontation methods. According to Brown (2018), “When combined with mass-produced gas or water pipes, dynamite gave desperate men an easily concealed and transported means to disrupt the system they so resented” (para. 6). Despite technological advances, being a city dweller has become even more dangerous since Nobel made his major scientific discovery.
Dynamite and Economy
The impact of dynamite in the economic sphere is much more one-sided than in the previous two civilizational areas discussed. The stabilized nitroglycerin helped business people and the government to extract land resources faster, open more new and deeper mines, and build complex domestic and international trade routes (Kravitz, n.d.). The only negative consequence here is the reduced need for living labor for such enterprises, which economically harms local communities.
Conclusion
As one can see, the usefulness of dynamite as a technology is a very controversial topic. I believe such tradeoffs were worth it as the cumulative positive effect on society is far greater than the negative one. Moreover, Nobel’s intentions were humanistic and even pacifistic in creating this new explosive, and it is not his fault that people used his invention for much less humane purposes.
The world has undergone several developments with new inventions coming up each new day. Comparing the world many years ago and presently, it can be deduced that it has changed in various ways. Starting from the very simple invention of fire to the most recent one of computers it is clear that the world has undergone great changes.
However, amongst all the inventions and developments, there are those that have had a positive impact and those that have had negative impacts on the world. For instance, the invention of communication technology has been of great help to the entire world because of the convenience and reliability it has come with.
There are different opinions on what people think of as being the worst invention that the world would be better off without it. Some of these inventions include, computers, genetically modified organisms, ICT scans, and even motor vehicles just to mention a few.
However, before deciding whether the invention was not worth being developed, the pros and cons have to be considered. According to my opinion, the invention of nuclear weapons should be considered as the worst invention to have ever taken place on earth. This is because of the mere fact that this invention has come with many negative effects.
For one, nuclear weapons are referred to as weapons of mass destruction since they can kill thousands of people at once (Pike 1). In such a scenario, they end up killing even the innocent people who have not committed any crime. Take for instance the cases of Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings both in Japan where nuclear weapons were used to destroy the two cities.
The death toll was about 90,000 to 166,000 people and 60,000 to 80, 0000 people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Such huge numbers of killings only occur with the use of nuclear weapons and not any other weapons of war. For instance, use of weapons such as guns, pistols, knives, and swords among others cannot be used to kill such numbers of people.
In addition to destroying people, nuclear weapons are known to destroy everything found in the place where the nuclear weapons are used. By doing this, it deters development since all the things that will have been established will be destroyed.
Nuclear weapons do not only have short-term effects but also have long-terms effects that will be felt in place where they have been used. The most common effect being that of gene mutation whereby, the residues of nuclear weapons on human beings, animals, plants, and the soil lead to changes in the gene thus causing procreation of mutated organisms.
For instance, human beings will bear children who will have defects such as short legs or hands, conjoined children, and deformed body parts among others. This very bad effect has a great impact on the future generation. On the other hand, looking at it from a different perspective, nuclear weapons have helped nations such as Russia, USA, and USSR who without the use of these weapons would not be in existence.
Nevertheless, I am still of the opinion that the invention of nuclear weapons is the worst to have ever occurred on earth. The good thing is that the world can still do well without the invention of nuclear weapons. In case there are wars, the people are in a position to use other weapons that will not have severe effects as the nuclear weapons.
The inventions of Thomas Edison, the brilliant American scientist, and entrepreneur, are relevant today, even though more than a century has passed since their creation. One of his most outstanding developments is an electric that was patented in the 19th century and changed the lives of people significantly. Due to this invention, a new round in science was achieved, and humanity entered a new industrial era.
Before Edison invented the electric lamp, centralized electric networks had not existed. However, with the advent of this development, people got an opportunity to illuminate large areas due to the ordered energy of the current rather than local lighting devices. Edison was the first to organize the streaming production of electric lamps and designed their basic configuration. As a result, people were able to control lighting levels and use electricity wisely.
Today, the traditional design of Edison’s lamp is used in many lighting fixtures. Although many innovations in the electricity industry have been developed since its inception, the classic design of this device does not lose popularity. Due to a simple d reliable construction, bulbs with filament are utilized in both domestic and industrial needs. In addition, the appearance of such a device gave impetus to the development of science in the field of electricity. Many new developments appeared due to Edison’s achievements, who was one of the founders of the practical application of current.
The electric lamp was one of the many inventions of the great scientist, but it was this development that glorified Edison most of all and became the subject associated with the inventor. The introduction of compressed current energy marked the transition to a new technological era. The outcome of Edison’s work may be seen in almost any home today, and the value of his contribution to science is undeniable.
The purpose of this presentation is to decide whether the new invention promoted by the research department should be used for the appliances in the future. The research department of an appliance manufacturing firm has developed a solid-state switch for its blender that the research department claims will reduce appliance returns under the one-year full warranty by 3%–6%. The claim needs to be tested before making the final decision about using the switch in the future.
Method Selection
The purpose of the analysis will be to determine if the proportion of returned blenders with new switches were deferent from the proportion of blenders with old switches. If the difference between the proportion is statistically significant, the new switch will be considered more desirable. In order to test for proportions, two independent samples of blenders need to be taken and the proportion of returned blenders need to be compared. The comparison can be conducted using the Z-test for differences in proportions as recommended by Zou and collogues.
Analysis Flow Chart
The present slide demonstrate a flow chart of analysis. First, null and alternative hypotheses need to be stated. Second, data needs to be collected and organized. Third, the statistical test needs to be run after testing for assumptions. And finally, the results need to be interpreted.
Hypotheses Formulation
The null hypothesis is that there is no significant difference between the proportions of returned blenders with new and old switches. The alternative hypothesis is that there is a significant difference between the proportions of returned blenders with new and old switches.
Data Collection
Data from two samples of 250 blenders was collected using simple random sampling. Simple random sampling was used because it helps to decrease the level of bias during the participant selection procedures, as everyone in the population receives an equal chance to participate.
Results
The test was performed after checking if all the assumptions were met. In particular, both samples were random and independent. The test results revealed that there was no significant difference between the proportions of returned blenders with new and old switches with a significance level of 0.05. The p-value was 0.075, which was below the significance level. Therefore, the null hypothesis was accepted.
Conclusion
The results demonstrated that the claim made by the research department was false. Since there was no difference in the number of returns, it is not recommended to decide which switch to use based on this parameter. Further research should be conducted to improve the quality of switches.
References
Etikan, I., & Bala, K. (2017). Sampling and sampling methods. Biometrics & Biostatistics International Journal, 5(6), 00149.
Zou, K. H., Fielding, J. R., Silverman, S. G., & Tempany, C. M. (2003). Hypothesis testing I: proportions. Radiology, 226(3), 609-613.
Although artificial light might seem white in appearance, scientific evidence indicates that it consists of a range of colors. The benefits of light depending on how, what, and when it is put into use (Amin 12). This reflective treatise attempts to explore the invention of artificial light, benefits, and usage in the field of chemistry.
The invention of Artificial Light
Although there is a controversy about who invented artificial light between Humphry Davy and Thomas Alva Edison, the universal science community has attributed the invention to Humphry Davy (Allen 12). The first electric light was invented by Humphry in the year 1802 through a combination of an efficient incandescent substance, a vacuum space, and a high resistance field. Humphry used his then the world’s most powerful electric battery to invent incandescent light. This was achieved by “passing an electric current through a thin strip of platinum, which glowed and produced light” (Allen 31). Although the experiment produced the first artificial light, it was too bright and did not last long. These principles were later used by other scientists to make improvements and create the electric bulb.
Benefits of Artificial Light
Artificial light has brought convenience to humanity as a movement at night has become easier and safer. Moreover, lighting in industries enables mankind to operate a 24-hour economy (Jay 16). For instance, solar flood lights have made it possible for mankind to hold outdoor functions at night, such as sports, because of improved visibility. In the recent past, artificial light has become a significant design tool in the field of construction and architecture as an interior and an exterior supplement (Hardman 27). For instance, light strings and highlights have become a class statement in the interior and exterior of modern megastructures across the globe. Artificial light has also been used in horticulture and floriculture to improve on the yields. At present, a substantial proportion of horticultural crops and flowers are grown in a controlled environment where the green light is used in supporting fast maturity (Knight 42). In addition, indoor gardening has become a reality and a way of life for millions of the world population because of artificial light.
Artificial Light in Chemistry
The invention of artificial light was, in fact, an experimental process. This means that there are several uses of light in the dynamic field of chemistry. To begin with, artificial light is used in most of the experiments in the laboratory to support controlled and uncontrolled setups (Roberts 39). For instance, plant-related experiments such as studying the growth path are supported by artificial light, which can be regulated, unlike natural light. Moreover, artificial light is actively used in the decomposition and studying the characteristics of different elements or compounds. For example, the light test is very common in identifying different elements within a compound on the basis of how they react to a beam of light (Jay 19). Apart from direct experiments, artificial light is used in chemistry labs to enhance visibility. Since most experiments run for several hours and days, light provides the much need visibility support that is consistent (Knight 42). This means that artificial light has made it possible for scientists to carry out experiments without interruption.
Conclusion
Humphry Davy invented artificial light in 1802. The benefits of artificial light are enhanced visibility, improved productivity in horticulture, and elongated working hours. In the field of chemistry, light supports several experiments and improve visibility in laboratories.
Works Cited
Allen, David, et al. Organophosphorus Chemistry. Vol. 44, Royal Society of Chemistry, 2015.
Amin, Wahida. The Poetry and Science of Humphry Davy. Dissertation, University of Salford, 2013. UIO, 2017.
Hardman, Jonathan. Oxford Textbook of Anesthesia. Oxford University Press, 2017.
Jay, Mike. “”O, Excellent Air Bag”: Humphry Davy and Nitrous Oxide.” The Public Domain Review, vol. 4, no, 16, 2014, Web.
Spectrophotometers are instruments that measure the amount of light absorbed by various substances. They are used in many fields, including chemistry and physics. The term “spectrophotometer” describes multiple devices, but they all work by measuring how much light is absorbed by a substance (Jensen 2). This measurement can be done by measuring the intensity of light. It can simultaneously be done by measuring how much time an object takes to return to its original state after being irradiated with light. It can determine the concentration of certain materials and chemicals, allowing scientists to analyze results more accurately using spectrophotometers. This article discusses how William B. Jensen invented spectrophotometers and how other scientists improved upon them through research that focused on enhancing precision and accuracy within these instruments’ abilities to accurately measure wavelengths within specific ranges.
Discussion
Spectrophotometers are used in spectroscopy to quantify the purity of substances and determine the matter’s composition. Spectrophotometers have been widely used in scientific research since the 1920s, and they have been made easier to use by adding controls such as an autocollimator and a lock-in amplifier (Jensen 4). An autocollimator keeps a sample in constant light while it is measured with a spectrophotometer. The lock-in amplifier allows the user to measure a narrow range of wavelengths, which helps determine substance mixtures or smaller amounts of samples than possible using a standard spectrophotometer alone. They are further used in mineralogy to analyze rock samples for mineral content. Each instrument has its own set of features that allow it to function as a specific type of spectrophotometer.
Jensen discusses different types of spectrophotometers: the photometer, which determines how much light is reflected from a substance. The polarimeter measures the angle between light waves and their reflection, and the microscope uses an image taken through a lens to analyze material samples under magnification (Jensen 10). He outlines how these instruments have been used since ancient times and how they were adapted to be used more effectively by scientists today. A spectrophotometer consists of a lamp, which shines light onto the sample and absorbs some of that light. It has a device that measures the intensity of the light reflected off the piece and an electronic circuit that converts measured intensity levels into concentration measurements (Jensen 12). The measurement can be expressed as absorbance or an extinction coefficient.
According to Jensen’s article, the light source is a small bulb turned on in a dark room with many different colors and intensities. A prism divides the spectrum into multiple wavelengths, which are then measured using a spectrophotometer (Jensen 17). It determines the proportion of each color present in a specific wavelength. In the article, Jensen explains how spectrophotometers are used in the study of chemistry (Jensen 37). Jensen explains that spectrophotometers can be used to make measurements where previous methods were unable to, like measuring the amount of light absorbed by a substance at different wavelengths. This measurement was previously impossible because no instruments could do so. He explains that spectrophotometers can be used with other methods, such as microscopes or X-ray diffractometers. Finally, Jensen discusses potential problems with spectrophotometers and ways they can be improved to make them more accurate and efficient.
Conclusion
Conclusively, the article is an excellent source of information about spectrophotometers. The author is an expert on the subject and offers a well-researched overview of how spectrophotometers work and their uses. Therefore, people need to know more about the scientific tools used throughout history and how they have helped advance people’s understanding of the world around them. It is fascinating how these devices have evolved, from being used only for scientific purposes like measuring light or color intensity to almost any purpose under the sun, such as detecting gas leaks.
Work Cited
Jensen, William B. “Spectrophotometers.” Oesper Collections in the History of Chemistry (2014). Web.
What could be more normal than sitting on a bed with silk bed covers, sipping tea out of a porcelain cup, reading a book or a newspaper, getting ready to have noodles for lunch? This average description of a modern person’s day is filled with things that centuries ago were considered the most miraculous and amazing inventions of their times. And all of them came directly from China.
Nowadays Chinese firms and companies are being accused of copying and faking inventions of other countries, starting mass production of bad quality goods, and flooding modern markets with them. In spite of this stereotype, China is the Motherland of many inventions of the past. As Deng (2011) notices, the achievements of Chinese civilization and culture have contributed immensely to human society.
Paper and printing were invented in ancient China. This influenced multiple spheres of human life – traveling, discoveries, communication, and learning. Centuries later, paper still remains one of the most essential objects of human life. The first mention of noodles was made around four thousand years ago, states Clark (n.d., para. 2). Silk became China’s link to the rest of the world. In the process of turning a cocoon into a thread, the spinning wheel was invented. Being one of the most popular and valuable goods of that time, silk helped Chinese trade ways and the famous Silk Way spread to Europe.
Also ancient Chinese were trying to conquer the sea territory and came up with snorkels, which eventually started to be used in the military, the diver with a snorkel was supposed to track approaching ships, place a pot filled with gunpowder under them, and set it on fire. Kites come from China, of course. Beautiful, gracious kites floating in the wind first were used for fishing without a boat. Kites were used for military purposes too; they were designed to deliver packs of gunpowder to the soldiers. Porcelain is another beautiful material that originates in China and is a common object of modern life. Porcelain quickly became one of the most valuable Chinese goods.
Vessels and vases made of porcelain had some new qualities that pottery of that time was unable to compete with. First of all, porcelain was much thinner than clay. It also had a white color that was easy to paint on. It is also known that alcohol is mentioned in Chinese legends. It turns out that beer was brewed in ancient China long before it appeared in Europe. Another well-known Chinese product is tea. But to make good tea, the tea leaves had to be cut to pieces first. The handmade shredding of tea leaves was taking too much time until a special shredding device was created. It was used to cut the leaves into strips and made the process of tea making much easier.
Gunpowder is one of the most significant and well-known inventions of ancient China. Clark says that according to an old legend, “gunpowder was accidentally discovered by alchemists looking for a concoction that would create immortality” (n. d., para. 1). Instead of immortality, this product has brought many deaths, this is a historical irony. Gunpowder is the first of the four inventions that, to my mind, made the biggest impact on human history, as it drastically changed the way wars were fought. Besides, gunpowder became the base for the production of fireworks. The next invention I admire is, of course, the compass.
Initially, the Chinese compasses were designed to point to the South. Needless to say, that without the proper navigation to discover the world around us, traveling and creating maps would be impossible. Also, the modern world would never be the way it is now without paper and printing. Even though the modern world is becoming more and more paperless, the invention of paper and printing has made an enormous impact on our education, navigation, communication and culture. Paper and printing are the inventions that I use the most in my everyday life. Documents, books, magazines and newspapers, advertisement, food industry, paper bags, cigarettes, hygiene, medicine, engineering – paper penetrates every modern person’s life all the time.
Is it fascinating, how Chinese minds have managed to lay the foundation of so many outstanding innovations that have been so popular for centuries? Even today we cannot imagine our lives without some of these amazing inventions. Many of the most significant ancient Chinese inventions were used in the military. As well as in every other civilization, wars and battles in China, fought by Chinese people, served as a great stimulation for the progress in engineering and design, science and construction.
There is also a more peaceful explanation of unbelievable progress in ancient China. Needham and Wang (2004) suspect that the Chinese way of thinking of that time may have been the main source and reason for such unusual ideas. Ancient Chinese thinkers did not separate the spiritual and the material; they saw the world around them as a whole. This special way of perception resulted in a big breakthrough in the science and engineering of the whole civilization.