The 5th of MayThursday

S C I E N C E

America’s

Aim:Students will know about America’s science

A republic of science

Inquiry and innovation in science

The US came into being during the Age of Enlightenment (circa 1680 to 1800), a period in which writers and thinkers rejected the superstitions of the past. Enlightenment philosophers envisioned a “republic of science” where idea is would be exchanged freely and useful knowledge would improve the lot of all citizens.

The US has encouraged science and invention. It has done this by promoting a free flow of idieas, encouraging the growth of “useful knowledge” and by welcoming creative people from all over the world.

The US Constititution itself reflects the desire to encourage scientific creativity.

A good climate for science

It was good place for science in America

Two of America’s founding fathers were scientists of some repute. Benjamin Franklin proved what had been suspected but never before shown: that lightning is a form of electricity /1752/. He also invented such conveniences as bifocal eyeglasses /1760/ and a stove /1742/ that bears his name.

Benjamin Franklin

The first bifocal eyeglasses

After the war David Rittenhouse designed road and canal system for the state of Pennsylvania.

Benjamin Rush, by introducing new medical treatments, he made the Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia an example of medical Enlightenment and after his military service Rush established the first free clinic in the US.

Charles Willson Peale is best remembered as an artist but he also was a natural historian, inventor, educator and politician. He created the first major museum in the US, the Peale Museum in Philadelphia.

Alexander Graham Bell who arrived from Scotland by way of Canada in 1872, developed and patented the telephone invention.

American know-how During the 19th century Britain, France and

Germany were at the forefront of new ideas in science and mathematics. But the United States lagged behind in the formulation of theory, it excelled in using theory to solve problems: applied science. Because Americans lived so far from the Western science and manufacturing, they often had to figure out their own ways of doing things.

When Americans combined theoritical knowledge with “Yankee ingenuity” the result was a flow of important inventions. The great American inventors include Robert Fulton (the steam boat), Samuel F.B Morse (the telegrapgh), Eli Whitney (the cotton gin), Cyrus McCormick (the reaper) and Thomas Alva Edison. The most fertile of them all, with more than a thousand inventions credited to his name.

The first steam boat

The first reaper

The first cotton gin

The British engineer Joseph Swan built an incandescent electric lamp in 1860, almost 20 years before Edison. But Edison’s was better. Edison’s light bulbs lasted much longer than Swan’s and they could be turned on and off individually. Within 30 years, Edison’s inventions had introduced electric lighting into millions of homes.

The Wright brothers built and flew several gliders. Then on December 17, 1903 they successfully flew the first heavier-than-air mechanically propelled airplane

Americans have won approximately half of the Noble Prizes awarded in the sciences.

The firs

t

bulb

First successful flight made by Orville and

Wilbur Wright

When was the Enlightenment period in the United States?

answer

How has the United states encouraged science and invention? answer

Can you describe America’s good climate for science? answer

Please fill the chart after reading scientists’ inventions. answer

    

Who When What did

Can you describe American know-how?answer

Why did the United States lag behind the science?

answer

It was around 1680 to 1900

It has done this by supporting many creative idieas, encouraging the growth of “useful knowledge” and by welcoming creative people from all over the world.

The US Constititution itself includes the policy to encourage scientific creativity.

It was good place for science. American science was closely

linked with the needs of the people and it was free from European

preconceptions.

Who When What did

Alexander Graham Bell:

in 1879,

1876 The "Box" telephone Pioneering long

distance oral communication.

Thomas Edison 1879 Electrical LightThanks to his desire

to "let there be light", we can work at night!

Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail

1844 Pioneering speedy communication

through the written word.

The Morse Telegraph Key

Charles Willson Peale The first major museum

click

When Americans combined theoretical knowledge with “Yankee ingenuity” the result was many inventions

Because Americans lived so far from

the Western science and manufacturing.

ConclusionAmerica could encourage the inventions of

scienceAmerica was a good place to develop scienceAmerica could combine theoretical

knowledge with native Americans ingenuity

Thank you for the attention!