Henry Cavendish (1731-1810) was an English experimental and theoretical chemist and physicist. He discovered hydrogen, which he termed inflammable air, and in 1797-98 used a torsion balance built by John Michell to measure the gravitational attraction between lead spheres, yielding the first accurate value for the Earth's mean density and, from it, the gravitational constant.
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Birth YearSourced to the subject's own account Birth DateSourced to the subject's own account Death DateSourced to the subject's own account Death YearSourced to the subject's own account FieldSourced to the subject's own account Death PlaceSourced to the subject's own account NationalitySourced to the subject's own account Notable WorkSourced to the subject's own accountDiscovery of hydrogen and measurement of the Earth's density (the Cavendish experiment) 1 BirthplaceSourced to the subject's own accountNice, Kingdom of Sardinia 1 Field
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Cavendish did not invent the torsion balance; he received John Michell's instrument after Michell's death, modified it, and used it in 1797-98 to measure the Earth's density.
Source Henry Cavendish (Wikipedia)
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Source Henry Cavendish (Wikipedia)
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1. Henry Cavendish (Wikipedia)
WikipediaLead section
10 October 1731 - 24 February 1810) was an English experimental and theoretical chemist and physicist. He is noted for his discovery of hydrogen
Infobox
Known for Discovery of hydrogen Measuring the Earth's density (Cavendish experiment)
Associated With: Torsion Balance, Density of the Earth section
The apparatus Cavendish used for weighing the Earth was a modification of the torsion balance built by geologist John Michell, who died before he could begin the experiment. The apparatus was sent in crates to Cavendish, who completed the experiment in 1797-1798.
- Conducted: Cavendish Experiment
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