Cavendish conducted his experiment in a dark, windless place, to prevent any external air currents or temperature changes from affecting the results of the experiment. He was able to calculate the density of the Earth's sphere by using the ratio between the forces of attraction between the spheres and the forces exerted by the Earth's gravity on the spheres.
Every experiment that has been conducted throughout history tells us something about the nature of science, proving scientific theories and claims true or false. Each of these experiments opens the door to new information, and experiments that fail also provide us with some information about the knowledge and theories we are studying.
However, there are some exceptional experiments that changed the course of science and history, which had the greatest impact on the future, and changed the way we think and our point of view about all the concepts around us.
Let us review together some scientific experiments that changed the way of thinking and the opinions that were held at that time
Cavendish Weighs the World (1798)
The eccentric scientist Henry Cavendish not only discovered hydrogen, but he also succeeded in measuring the weight of the world .
In his experiment, he used a special device called a torsion balance, and in 1798 he announced the results of this experiment. By measuring the gravitational forces between two lead balls of different sizes, he was able to calculate the density of the Earth.
His device consisted of a wooden rod 1.8 metres long, to which he attached two lead balls, each weighing 0.73 kg, by wire. He also used two larger lead balls weighing 159 kg, which he placed close to the two smaller balls. This produced sufficient gravitational force, so that when the larger balls were moved slightly, this caused the wooden rod to bend.
The results of the experiment were incredibly accurate, and science later used them to calculate the mass of the sun, the moon, and even other planets in the solar system.
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