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GP: Fachverband Geschichte der Physik
GP 5: Instruments as tools and subjects of research
GP 5.2: Vortrag
Dienstag, 19. März 2019, 11:30–12:00, HS 9
Alternative facts * 18th century vacuum experiments on replicas true to the sources — •Wolfgang Engels1 and Falk Riess2 — 1HistEx GmbH, Marie-Curie-Str.1, 26129 Oldenburg — 2Universität Oldenburg
The re-enactment of historical experiments by making use of faithful replicas can contribute to the clarification of historical laboratory practice and to the determination of the relationship between theoretical ideas and practical, experimental results in the development of science. The procedure and the results generated by such a research approach will be exemplified using the field of vacuum technology in the 18th century.
The design of vacuum pumps is well documented, and several pumps have been preserved. Finally, there are extensive descriptions of instrument makers and experimenters about (actual or alleged) experiments that served to demonstrate this then new knowledge. However, the insights gained from working replicas of vacuum pumps from the early 18th century speak a different language: our experiments show that in some cases the test results cannot be reproduced with the described instruments as claimed by the authors. This is illustrated by some examples, e.g. the silence of a sound source in the air-diluted room of the recipient. The revealed errors and mistakes allow conclusions to be drawn about the scientific concepts and ideas of the protagonists.
It is also noteworthy that, in the case of vacuum pumps, the manufacturers of the instruments often had a greater repertoire of knowledge and practical skills than the actual experimenters and readily passed on this knowledge in the form of letters, handouts or publications. However, competition between manufacturers for financially strong customers also led to copyright infringement being reminiscent of modern forms of industrial espionage or piracy.