There have been many scientists of French origin that have contributed to discoveries in electricity and electrical generators. France has shown its respect for these scientists by listing many of their names on the Eiffel Tower. There is one contributor, whose name is not listed on the Eiffel Tower. Hippolyte Pixii’s name is not on the Eiffel Tower, but he contributed to the discovery and modification for an early form of the electric generator or dynamo. Hippolyte Pixii constructed the hand cranking generator in 1832 based on magnetic induction, the principles founded by British scientist Mike Faraday. Generators produce Read the rest of this entry »

The parachute was invented by Francois Blanchard, a French aeronaut. The word “parachute” is actually French and means to prepare for a fall. The main purpose of the parachute is to slow the motion of a person through the atmosphere by creating drag. Original parachutes were made of silk but now they are composed of nylon. In order to be called a parachute the material must slow the vertical speed of an object or person by 75 percent or more.Is this new to you? Catch up here

The parachute had Read the rest of this entry »

Many people want to credit Blaise Pascal with the creation of the adding machine. That is only partially correct.
The first adding machine was created in 1623 by Wilhelm Schickard. Unfortunately, the machine was destroyed by a fire. Knowledge of the machine comes from letters that Wilhelm Schickard wrote to Johannes Kepler, credited with the creation of eponymous laws of planetary motion. The letters were only found years after the death of Kepler and some university students have tried to recreate the machine. The machine was known as Read the rest of this entry »

For over a century, automobiles powered by internal combustion engines have been the standard mode of transportation for those who can afford them. For many decades, internal combustion engines have been used to power various types of machinery for both industrial and personal use. While alternatives to internal combustion are constantly being discussed, they are at least decades away from being realized. Thus, while there have been many attempts to declare this French technology obsolete, rumors of its demise are premature.

The first internal combustion engine was invented by Frenchmen Nicephore and Claude Niepce and was patented Read the rest of this entry »