Assess Benjamin Franklin's contributions to science - Research Paper Example

?Benjamin Franklin's Contributions to Science Introduction Science is one of the fields that have helped in transforming the world to be a better place to live in. Without scientific discoveries, certainly the world would be different from what it is today. For instance, people would not have known why how and why the sun rises from the east and sets on the west. At the same time, people would still have believed that the earth is flat and is the only solar planet. However, with the help of great scientists, we are able to know how things work. Benjamin Franklin is one of the most famous men in America’s history who made great contributions in the field of science. His autobiography reveals many contributions that he made during his life. In fact, many authors have also written much about his great contribution in science, politics, and literature. Franklin believed that man should strive to make the world a better place than he did or she finds it. With this inspiration, he managed to make several inventions in science as will be discussed in this paper. Background Science is one of the most important fields for development. The world before the 18th century has been described as a primitive world, where people depended on manual ways of during things. The contribution of science was not given the attention it deserved. It was until the 18th century that science became an important field of study for the development of Europe and America. This began with Isaac Newton’s discovery of the law of gravity and light. Newton’s discoveries inspired other scientists, including Edward Jenner and Joseph Priestley who later made important scientific discoveries in medicine and chemistry respectively (Fisher 12). In fact, 18th century comes out as the century that several discoveries were made, including steam engine, cotton gin, mercury thermometer, gas lighting, and hot-air balloon just to name but a few. Benjamin Franklin is among the great American scientists of the 18th century whose contributions in science have been of great importance to the world, several years after his death. Life Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706 Boston, Massachusetts to a poor family comprising of his father, Josiah who happened to be a candle maker and Abiah, his mother. He was the fifteenth child in their family. Franklin was not lucky to have a formal education. He only managed to attend school for two years before being sent home for lack of school fees (Murre 15). However, since his family was too poor to afford the school fees required, Franklin abandoned school and resorted to helping his poor father in candle making. Nonetheless, since he had interest in having good education, he taught himself how to read and write, as well as how to experiment. Since his family could not afford enough money to feed the entire family, Franklin began working as a printer in Boston to boost his family income. Even though he was working as a printer, he still had a lot of interest in education. As such, he kept reading books and periodicals at night after leaving work (Canada par. 3). The more he continued practicing reading and writing, the more he developed good grammar and style of writing. However, when he was about 17 years of age, Franklin resigned from the print shop where he had been working as a printer. This is after he had gained a wealth of experience in typesetting skills. He then left Boston for Philadelphia, where he arrived very hungry and tired (Murre 18). It did not take him long before getting a new job in Samuel Keimer’s printing shop. Here, he demonstrated great skills, which earned him good salary. At age 22, in 1978, he started his print shop in partnership with Meredith. Few years later at the age of 24 year, Franklin met Deborah, whom he fell in love with, married, and were blessed with two children named Sarah and Francis Folger. His printing business became a great success, transforming him from a poor boy to a wealthy businessperson. In fact, his success in printing business made him become the official printer of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey. Franklin’s Contributions in Science Franklin is one of the greatest inventors that America has ever had. Even though he invented in different field, including politics and education, his greatest contributions came out in the field of science. In fact, unlike many other inventors who patented their inventions, Franklin failed to patent any of his inventions, even when given the opportunity to do so (Fisher 16). This main reason for refusing to patent his invention was based on his belief that, since he was one of the beneficiaries of other people’s inventions who lived before him; he should also give other people a chance to benefit from his inventions. This philosophy distinguished him from other inventors that America have had. Unlike other inventors, he believed on mentorship and giving people a chance to prove their skills and innovation through empowerment. His first major contribution in science was seen through his invention of the stove, commonly referred to as the Franklin stove (Cohen 30). After finding it difficult living in a cold room, Franklin felt that it was necessary to fight a way of heating the room. As a result, he assembled materials that enabled him invent a stove that enabled him heat the house and obtain the warmth desired during cold weather. Unlike, the wood used in other fireplaces, the Franklin Stove used a small quantity of wood, but produced double the heat produced by other fireplaces. The stove gained popularity in the entire U.S. for more than a century. In fact, it is believed that most stoves of today are based on the concept that Franklin used in making the stove. Franklin also made significant contribution in understanding electricity through publications that have helped in formulating theories related to electricity. In his autobiography, we are told that Franklin had a lot of interest in learning about electricity. As a result, he constantly conducted experiments, from which he gained knowledge that enabled him publish a book that has been widely in the formulation of the Modern Electric Theory. Unlike what people though, Franklin was very much aware of the dangers of using conductive rods. This became apparent when he resorted to using a kite to prevent him from the danger of electrocution. Franklin did an experiment with a kit at a time when it was heavily raining (Murre 24). This experiment later proved important as it led to the formulation of a very crucial theory that of electricity that is applicable to date. In conducting the research, Franklin reportedly took a kit that had been rained on, but ensured that that the part he was holding was not wet. He then attached a key to the string, which he then proceeded to connect to a Leyden jar, which he believed would accumulate electricity from a lightning bolt in case it works. Franklin’s main intention was to make the kite to hit by lightning. However, this failed to happen as he intended. Nevertheless, Franklin observed that the strings, which he had connected to the kite, were repellant (Cohen 34). Based on this experiment, he was able to prove that the Leyden jar had conducted had been charged. In fact, we are told that Franklin happened to have received electric shock by placing his hand close to the Leyden and the key. Receiving a shock helped in proving his theory. No one has disapproved this theory since it was formulated by Franklin. From his autobiography, we learn that Franklin was very passionate about the street lighting and civic maintenance. It is worth noting that in the 18th century, electricity had not been harnessed in America and the world over. As such, streetlights consisted on lamps lit with oil (Fisher 21). The lamps used in streetlights, however, would get dark very fast due to the soot that the lamps produced. This implies that the lights would be rendered making the streets look dark. This did not please Franklin at all. This is after observing that the lamps had to be cleaned every day to enable them produce b right light. This proved cumbersome and time consuming. As a result, Franklin began conducting a scientific experiment that would help solve the problem of street lighting. After careful thought and research, Franklin designed a street lamp in a way that would allow air to flow in the lamp, thereby preventing the production of soot (Murre 33). To accomplish his mission, he devised the lamp by placing crevices below the lamp to allow smoke to move up the lam. In addition, he placed a funnel that pulled the smoke out of the lamp. This invention help improve street lighting. Franklin’s contribution in science is also evident through his invention of bifocal lenses. We learn from his autobiography that Franklin has poor vision (Marcovitz 71). As a result, he had to rely on specks for reading and writing. However, he was not pleased with having to put on and remove the specks every now and then. As an innovator, he embarked on an experiment that would allow him to solve the problem of vision. As a result, in 1784, Franklin developed the first bifocal lenses, which enabled him to read and see thing, which are far away without necessarily changing the lenses (Marcovitz 71). This has been a great invention in science field. In fact, most bifocals made today are based on his concept. This has enabled people with poor vision to have lenses, which they can use for both vision and reading without necessarily having to have two lenses. As earlier mentioned, Franklin was born in Boston. As a result, he would spend much of his time in the nearby beaches, something he loved so much. In fact, from his autobiography, we are told that Franklin learned how to swim a very young age to become an expert swimmer. It is during his swimming life in Boston that he came up with swim fins made of wooden pallets (Cohen 37). In these palettes, he dug a hole which to place the thumb. These swimming fins enabled him to swim faster in waters. However, after realizing that the first swimming fins did not provide the comfort he wanted, Franklin later went ahead to refine his earlier swim fin to make them as they are known today. Even though the modern swim fins may look more developed than Franklin’s, the truth of the matter is that Franklin was the first person to invent the swim fins. Probably without his contribution, no one would have made such as important invention. Franklin also had an interest in the study of the working of the human body. This is an interest, which he had from his childhood years. One time when his brother in law developed kidney stones, it became very difficult taking care of his brother. As a result, to minimize the discomfort, Franklin developed a flexible urinary catheter. Murre observed that this was the first device made in America (34). This invention has proved very important for physicians and doctors in taking career of patients suffering from kidney stones and diabetes. Without this great invention, scientists would be finding it difficult handling patients suffering from kidney stones and other ailments requiring flexible urinary catheter. Franklin also made an observation that proved important in science. For instance, Franklin noted that the nutrients found in fruits, such as citrus fruits are important for the human body. In fact, according to his observation, Franklin noted that the nutrient in fruits is important for the maintenance of healthy gum and skin (Cohen 439). At the time of making this invention, no one knew about vitamin C. In his publications, he advised people to consume fruits in plenty. This was immediately accepted by the British sailors who began including lime into their diet, effectively reducing outbreak of scabies and scurvy. Franklin also made significant contributions in physics through his study of heat conduction, wave theory of light, and cooling just to name but a few. In this regard, he is credited for coming up with the law of the effect of heat of conduction of non-conductors such as glass, as well as theories on non-conduction of ice (Cohen 41). In addition, Franklin performed several experiments, which resulted in the development of the concept of refrigeration. Further, he is among the few scientists who supported Christian Huygens’ theory of light by disputing Newton’s corpuscular theory, which people believed to be true at the time. Franklin’s other significant contributions in science include he came up with ideas that would later help improve ships and travel (Fisher 23). His scientific contribution is also evident when he became among the first people to chart the Gulf Stream, the invention of odometer and armonica, just to name but a few. In conclusion, even though Franklin passed on several years back, his legacy still lives. His contribution in science helped in developing science than it was in prehistory. Works Cited Canada, Mark. “Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790.” 2013. Web. 10 Dec. 2013 http://www.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/allam/16071783/lit/franklin/ Cohen, Bernard I. Benjamin Franklin's Science. Boston, MA: Harvard University Press, 1996. Print. Fisher, Sydney G. The True Benjamin Franklin (Fully Illustrated Edition). Boston, MA: Jazzybee Verlag, 2012. Print. Marcovitz, Hal. Benjamin Franklin. New York, NY: Infobase Publishing, 2009. Print. Murre, Christopher J. Benjamin Franklin: Biographical Overview and Bibliography. New York, NY: Nova Publishers, 2002. Print. Read More