De Magnete

De Magnete, Magneticisque Corporibus, et de Magno Magnete Tellure (On the Magnet and Magnetic Bodies, and on That Great Magnet the Earth) is a scientific work published in 1600 by the English physician and scientist William Gilbert.

Related Topics:
Magnet - 1600 - William Gilbert

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In this work Gilbert describes many of his experiments with his model earth called the terrella. From the experiments, he concluded that the Earth was magnetic and that this was why the compass pointed north (previously, it was thought that it was Polaris or a large magnetic island at the North Pole that attracted the compass). In his book, he also studied static electricity produced using amber; amber is called elektron in Greek, electrum in Latin, so Gilbert decided to call the phenomenon by the adjective electricus and the noun electricitas. These terms gave rise to the English words 'electric' and 'electricity'.

Related Topics:
Experiment - Terrella - Earth was magnetic - Compass - Polaris - North Pole - Static electricity - Amber - Electricity

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De Magnete was influential not only because of its subject matter, but also for the rigorous way in which Gilbert described his experiments. Although his thinking was heavily influenced by the mysticism of his time, Gilbert was also one of the pioneers of experimental physics.

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