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Blaise Pascal
(1623-1662)
Blaise Pascal |
Blaise
Pascal, French scientist, mathematician, and philosopher, may be
best remembered for developing (with Fermet) the modern theory
of probability and for his religious philosophy. However
he also conducted significant and extensive experiments on the
properties of fluids, through them demonstrating that air has
weight, establishing the first conclusive proof of the pressure
of the atmosphere, and demonstrating the barometric effects of
altitude. His experiments with liquids led to the
formulation of Pascal’s Law (which states that in a fluid at
rest, the pressure is transmitted equally in all directions) and
completed the theory of hydrostatics. Discussions of his
experiments were published posthumously (1663) in his Treatise
on the Equilibrium of Liquids and Treatise on the Weight of the
Mass of the Air. |
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| Sketches
illustrating Pascal’s experiments regarding the effects of the
weight of air, such as its causing water to rise in siphons,
syringes, and pumps (top picture; middle picture, tubes with air
and/or mercury immersed in water; bottom picture, tubes in
vacuum). (Traitez de l’Equilibre des Liqueurs et de la
Pesanteur de la Masse de l’Air.)
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Sketches
of Pascal’s experimental equipment demonstrating the
principles of hydrostatic pressure. (Traitez
de l’Equilibre des Liqueurs et de la Pesanteur de la Masse de
l’Air)
|
Pascal in the History of
Hydraulics Collection:
- Traitez de l’Equilibre
des Liqueurs et de la Pesanteur de la Masse de l’Air (Treatise on
the Equilibrium of Liquids and Treatise on the Weight of the Mass of
the Air). (Original edition of Pascal’s writings, published
1663, Paris) (Call number: QC143 P38)
- Traitez de l’Equilibre
des Liqueurs et de la Pesanteur de la Masse de l’Air.
(First reprinting, published 1664, Paris) (Call number: QC143 P38
1664)
- Traitez de l’Equilibre
des Liqueurs et de la Pesanteur de la Masse de l’Air. (Second
reprinting, published 1698, Paris) (Call number: QC143 P38 1698)
- The Physical
Treatises of Pascal: The Equilibrium of Liquids and the Weight of
the Mass of the Air (English translation by IHB and AGH
Spiers, published by Columbia University Press, New York,
1937) (Call number:QC143 P33 1937)
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