A Course of Mechanical, Magnetical, Optical, Hydrostatical and Pneumatical Experiments ebook

A Course of Mechanical, Magnetical, Optical, Hydrostatical and Pneumatical Experiments Perform'd by Francis Hauksbee, and the Explanatory Lectures read by William Whiston, M.A. is a seminal work that captures the spirit of scientific inquiry and public demonstration in early 18th-century England. This book documents a series of experimental lectures delivered at the Royal Society and other venues, where Francis Hauksbee, a renowned experimentalist and instrument maker, performed a wide array of demonstrations in the fields of mechanics, magnetism, optics, hydrostatics, and pneumatics. William Whiston, a prominent mathematician and successor to Isaac Newton as Lucasian Professor at Cambridge, provided detailed explanatory lectures to accompany Hauksbee’s experiments, making complex scientific principles accessible to a broader audience. The book is structured as a comprehensive guide to the experiments, offering both practical descriptions of the apparatus and procedures, as well as theoretical explanations grounded in the latest scientific understanding of the time. Readers are introduced to the marvels of air pumps, the mysteries of magnetism, the behavior of light and lenses, the properties of fluids, and the mechanics of motion, all illustrated through vivid accounts of live demonstrations. Hauksbee’s innovative experiments—such as his famous work with static electricity and the creation of artificial phosphorescence—are described in detail, highlighting his ingenuity and the excitement these public displays generated. Whiston’s lectures provide context and clarity, linking the experiments to broader scientific theories and the works of figures like Newton, Boyle, and Hooke. The book not only serves as a record of scientific progress but also as a testament to the educational methods of the era, emphasizing observation, experimentation, and rational explanation. It reflects the collaborative nature of early modern science, where experimenters and theorists worked together to advance knowledge. A Course of Mechanical, Magnetical, Optical, Hydrostatical and Pneumatical Experiments is an invaluable resource for historians of science, educators, and anyone interested in the development of experimental physics. It offers a window into the excitement and challenges of scientific discovery during the Enlightenment, showcasing the interplay between hands-on experimentation and theoretical insight that laid the foundations for modern science.