Who was the inventor of the Magdeburg hemisphere?
The Magdeburg hemispheres were invented by German scientist and mayor of Magdeburg, Otto von Guericke, to demonstrate the air pump that he had invented, and the concept of atmospheric pressure. The first artificial vacuum had been produced a few years earlier by Evangelista Torricelli, and had inspired Guericke to design…
When did Guericke perform the Magdeburg hemispheres demonstration?
This seals together the hemispheres with a remarkable force. Guericke first demonstrated this force in 1654 for the Emperor Ferdinand III. Thirty horses, in two teams of 15, were unable to pull apart the evacuated hemispheres! He performed a smaller scale performance in 1656 in his hometown of Magdeburg, using two teams of eight horses.
What causes pressure drop in Magdeburg hemispheres?
Instead, as it is burning (consuming oxygen) it is heating the air in the glasses, causing it to expand and be forced out between the paper and glasses. When it extinguishes, the remaining air cools and contracts, pulling the glasses tightly together, causing the drop in pressure.
How are the Magdeburg hemispheres and suction cups related?
A suction cup gets its sticking force by the same action as the Magdeburg hemispheres: when one pushes the cup against a smooth wall, one forces the air out of the cup, allowing atmospheric pressure to hold it to the wall.
How do you pull two Magdeburg hemispheres apart?
Place the two Magdeburg hemispheres together tightly and close off the valve. Attach one spring scale to each hemisphere, then use the spring scales to pull the hemispheres apart.As you pull, the scales will show the small force you use to pull them apart. For the second part to this demonstration, place the two halves together and open the valve.
What are the lessons of the Magdeburg experiment?
In conclusion, the lessons from the recreation of the Magdeburg experiment are as follows: 1. Use small, tired, uncoordinated horses. 2. Feed the horses as little as possible two days before the test. 3. Build in some cushion into the harness. For example, use nylon straps or ordinary ropes instead of chains.
Who was the mayor of Magdeburg in 1656?
In 1656 he repeated the demonstration with sixteen horses (two teams of eight) in his hometown of Magdeburg, where he was mayor. He also took the two spheres, hung the two hemispheres with a support, and removed the air from within. He then strapped weights to the spheres, but the spheres would not budge.
Who are the children of Margarethe von Guericke?
Before Margarethe’s death in 1645, they had three children together: Anna Catherine, Hans Otto, and Jacob Christopher. Anna Catherine and Jacob Christopher both died in infancy. Von Guericke later remarried to Dorotha Lentke in 1652.
Are there any reenactments of the von Guericke experiment?
Reenactments of von Guericke’s experiment of 1654 are performed in locations around the world by the Otto von Guericke Society. On 18 March 2000, a demonstration using sixteen horses was conducted in Great Torrington by Barometer World . The experiment has been commemorated on at least two German stamps.
What was von Guericke inspired by in the theory of relativity?
Inspired by Copernican cosmology and the idea of vast, endless, empty space where light could propagate, bodies could move about unhindered, and sound cannot be detected, von Guericke set about replicating this phenomena on Earth.
How are two hemispheres of a Magdeburg sphere held together?
Two brass hemispheres are brought together and evacuated, and are held together by the pressure of the atmosphere. Two brass hemispheres fit together to form an air-tight seal. One has a vacuum pump attachment and stop cock; the completed sphere can evacuated using a vacuum pump under a minute.