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Jacob Leupold (22 July 1674 – 12 January 1727) was a German
In the 17th century, the main instruments for experimental physics were the
Biography of Jacob Leupold
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Full text of Theatrum Machinarum Generale (Volume 1)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leupold, Jacob 1674 births 1727 deaths 17th-century German mathematicians 18th-century German physicists 18th-century German mathematicians
Jacob Leupold (22 July 1674 – 12 January 1727) was a German physicist
A physicist is a scientist who specializes in the field of physics, which encompasses the interactions of matter and energy at all length and time scales in the physical universe.
Physicists generally are interested in the root or ultimate cau ...
, mathematician
A mathematician is someone who uses an extensive knowledge of mathematics in their work, typically to solve mathematical problems.
Mathematicians are concerned with numbers, data, quantity, structure, space, models, and change.
History
On ...
, instrument maker, mining commissioner and engineer
Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who Invention, invent, design, analyze, build and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while considerin ...
. He wrote the seminal book ''Theatrum Machinarum Generale'' ("The General Theory of Machines").
Early life
Jacob Leupold built many instruments needed for experimental physics studies. In 1699 Leupold's interests had fully changed tomechanics
Mechanics (from Ancient Greek: μηχανική, ''mēkhanikḗ'', "of machines") is the area of mathematics and physics concerned with the relationships between force, matter, and motion among physical objects. Forces applied to objec ...
and mathematics.
Working life
In 1701 Leupold obtained a position as an economist in George Military Hospital, thus ensuring a regular income but not enough free time to dedicate himself to mechanics.
In the 17th century, the main instruments for experimental physics were the telescope
A telescope is a device used to observe distant objects by their emission, absorption, or reflection of electromagnetic radiation. Originally meaning only an optical instrument using lenses, curved mirrors, or a combination of both to obse ...
, the microscope
A microscope () is a laboratory instrument used to examine objects that are too small to be seen by the naked eye. Microscopy is the science of investigating small objects and structures using a microscope. Microscopic means being invisi ...
, the pendulum clock
A pendulum clock is a clock that uses a pendulum, a swinging weight, as its timekeeping element. The advantage of a pendulum for timekeeping is that it is a harmonic oscillator: It swings back and forth in a precise time interval dependent on i ...
and the vacuum pump
A vacuum pump is a device that draws gas molecules from a sealed volume in order to leave behind a partial vacuum. The job of a vacuum pump is to generate a relative vacuum within a capacity. The first vacuum pump was invented in 1650 by Otto ...
, invented in 1656 by Otto von Guericke
Otto von Guericke ( , , ; spelled Gericke until 1666; November 20, 1602 – May 11, 1686 ; November 30, 1602 – May 21, 1686 ) was a German scientist, inventor, and politician. His pioneering scientific work, the development of experimental me ...
. Leupold is also credited as an early inventor of air pump. He designed his first pump in 1705, in 1707 he published a book "Antlia pneumatica illustrata". In 1711 following the advice of its president G. W. Leibniz, the Prussian Academy of Sciences acquired Leupold's pump. In 1715 Leupold became a member of academy. In 1720 Leupold started to work on the manuscript of Theatrum Machinarum. It was the first systematic analysis of mechanical engineering. It included, ahead of its time, a design for a high-pressure non-condensing steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid. The steam engine uses the force produced by steam pressure to push a piston back and forth inside a cylinder. This pushing force can be ...
, the likes of which were not built until the early 19th century.
Theatrum machinarum consists of 10 illustrated volumes. It was published in Leipzig between 1724 and 1739.
Personal life
He married Anna Elizabeth and they had three sons and three daughters who all died young except for one daughter. His wife died in 1713. Leupold died on 12 January 1727 at age 53.Sources
Biography of Jacob Leupold
*
Full text of Theatrum Machinarum Generale (Volume 1)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leupold, Jacob 1674 births 1727 deaths 17th-century German mathematicians 18th-century German physicists 18th-century German mathematicians