Credit: ©The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.14588

    Scale to measure water pressure

    Date
    11 November 1685
    Creator
    Unknown, Artist
    Object type
    Archive reference number
    Manuscript page number
    p203
    Material
    Dimensions
    height (page): 375mm
    width (page): 238mm
    Subject
    Content object
    Description
    Drawing of a scale with a water vessel and pipe leading to another vessel. Dr Papin's demonstrations of a problem of Simon Stevin: to prove that water included in a slender pipe will press upon a large base as much as a pillar of water as large as the base and as high as the slender pipe. This demonstration was originally suggested by Robert Boyle at the meeting on 11 November 1685.

    Copied from the image at RBO/6/257a.
    Object history
    At the meeting of the Royal Society on 11 November 1685, ‘An experiment having been tried by Mr. Boyle with a convenient apparatus, proving, that water included in a slender pipe would press upon a large basis as much as a pillar of water as large as the basis, and as high as the slender pipe; he appointed Dr. Papin to shew the same to the Society; which was done, and the same experiment was ordered to be repeated at the next meeting’ (Birch 4:429).

    18 November 1685, ‘The experiment made at the last meeting by Dr. Papin was again tried; viz. that a vessel of water being broader at the bottom than the top, weighs equal to a cylinder of water as broad as the bottom of the vessel, and as high as the perpendicular from the surface of the water to the bottom’ (Birch 4:434).
    Related fellows
    Denis Papin (1647, French) , Natural philosopher
    Robert Boyle (1627 - 1691, British) , Natural philosopher
    Associated place
    <The World>
       > Europe
          > France
    <The World>
       > Europe
          > United Kingdom
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