Inspired from youth by Albert Camus' sense of the Absurd, I try to be a voice for REASON in the growing darkness and moral insanity of global capitalism .
Monday, March 17, 2025
My question : Why did the famous Leyden Jar take so long to invent ? A leftover question from my 8th grade Science class .
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Shocking" results from a Leyden jar experiment. | ScienceBob.com
The Leyden jar, the first device capable of storing a significant electric charge, wasn't invented immediately upon early observations of static electricity because the understanding of electricity and how to control it took time to develop, and the necessary materials and techniques were not readily available.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Understanding Electricity:
While the Ancient Greeks knew about static electricity (attracted by rubbed amber), they didn't have the knowledge to store or control it. The concept of electricity as a "fluid" or "force" that could be accumulated and released was a gradual development.
Lack of Suitable Materials:
The invention of the Leyden jar relied on the combination of a good insulator (glass) and a way to conduct electricity (metal foil). While glass and metals were known, the specific application of these materials to create a device for storing electricity was not immediately obvious.
Invention of the Leyden Jar:
The Leyden jar was invented in 1745 by Ewald G. Von Kleist, who accidentally discovered a way to store a charge by using a glass bottle coated with metal foil. Pieter van Musschenbroek of Leyden, Holland, later experimented with and documented the process, leading to the device becoming known as the Leyden jar.
Early Experiments and Misconceptions:
Initially, scientists thought the liquid inside the jar was necessary for storing electricity, but later experiments proved that the glass itself was the key insulator.
Importance of the Leyden Jar:
The Leyden jar was a crucial step in the development of electrical technology, as it allowed scientists to store and manipulate electric charges, paving the way for future inventions like the capacitor.
Why did it take so long to discover electricity? : r/AskPhysics - Reddit
Nov 9, 2024 — It only our ability to control electricity that took a while to develop. I think if you go through the history of scien...
Reddit ·
r/AskPhysics
Leyden jar - Wikipedia
Von Kleist knew that the glass would provide an obstacle to the escape of the "fluid", and so was convinced that a substantial ele...
Wikipedia
Leyden Jars – 1745 - Magnet Academy - National MagLab
At first people thought the liquid in the Leyden jar stored electricity, but through experimentation scientists discovered that wa...
National MagLab
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Comments that are courteous, concise and relevant are always welcome, whether or not they agree with the views expressed here or not. Profanity is not necessary. Thank you for reading “Time Enough At Last!”
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