Scientist Look - Alike - Epino Salvador as Benjamin Franklin

Summary

Benjamin Franklin, driven by necessity, invented bifocal glasses to alleviate the frustration of switching between lenses due to his near- and farsightedness. He cut and combined lenses from two pairs of spectacles to create one, a solution millions use today. In another experiment, Franklin explored electricity with his famous kite and key experiment during a thunderstorm, proving the existence of static electricity. This led to his invention of the lightning rod, a device still used in modern buildings to prevent damage from lightning strikes, even saving his own home from fire.

Takeaways

• 👓 Benjamin Franklin invented bifocal glasses out of necessity to avoid switching between different glasses due to his myopia and hyperopia.
• 😠 Constantly needing to switch glasses caused frustration, which led Franklin to develop bifocal lenses.
• 🛠️ Franklin made bifocal spectacles by cutting the lenses from two pairs of glasses and combining them into one frame.
• 🌩️ During an experiment in Philadelphia, Franklin flew a kite during a thunderstorm to investigate electricity.
• ⚡ He tied a thin metal wire from a key to the kite and connected it to a Leyden jar to store electrical charge.
• 🎗️ Franklin insulated himself by holding a dry silk ribbon, preventing him from getting shocked during the experiment.
• 💡 The experiment demonstrated that lightning was a form of static electricity, like the shock one gets from static on a carpet.
• 🔌 Realizing electricity could be conducted safely, Franklin invented the lightning rod to protect buildings from lightning strikes.
• 🏠 Later, lightning struck Franklin's own house, but the lightning rod he invented saved it from burning.
• 🏙️ Today, lightning rods are required on all high-rise buildings as a standard safety measure.

Q & A

What problem did Benjamin Franklin face that led him to invent bifocal glasses?

Benjamin Franklin suffered from both myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness), which required him to constantly switch between different pairs of glasses. This frustration led him to invent bifocal glasses.

How did Benjamin Franklin create his bifocal glasses?

Franklin created bifocal glasses by cutting the lenses from two pairs of spectacles in half and placing the halves into one frame, allowing him to see both near and far without switching glasses.

What experiment is Benjamin Franklin famous for that involved a kite and lightning?

Benjamin Franklin conducted an experiment where he flew a kite during a thunderstorm, with a key tied to a thin metal wire attached to the kite. This experiment demonstrated that lightning was a form of static electricity.

Why did Benjamin Franklin use a silk ribbon in his lightning experiment?

Franklin used a silk ribbon because silk acts as an insulator, preventing the negative charges from the lightning from passing through to him, which kept him safe from the electrical charge.

What did Benjamin Franklin discover about electricity from his kite experiment?

Franklin discovered that lightning is a form of static electricity and that it can be transferred down a conductor, like the kite string, into the ground.

What practical invention did Benjamin Franklin develop as a result of his work with electricity?

As a result of his experiments with electricity, Franklin invented the lightning rod, which directs lightning safely into the ground, preventing damage to buildings.

How did Benjamin Franklin's lightning rod protect his own home?

When lightning struck Franklin’s house later in his life, the lightning rod he had installed directed the lightning into the ground, saving the house from burning.

What lesson can people today learn from Franklin's kite experiment?

Franklin's kite experiment shows that static electricity can be transferred through conductors, a principle people can experience today by shuffling their feet on a carpet and touching a metal object, producing a small shock.

Why are lightning rods important in modern buildings?

Lightning rods are required in modern high-rise buildings because they provide a safe path for lightning to reach the ground, preventing fires and structural damage.

What role did Franklin’s son, William, play in the kite experiment?

William Franklin assisted Benjamin Franklin in the kite experiment by helping with the setup, such as tying the metal wire and preparing the equipment.