Jacob Leupold
Encyclopedia
Jacob Leupold was a German
physicist
, scientist
, mathematician
, instrument maker, mining commissioner and an engineer
. He wrote the important and popular book Theatrum Machinarum Generale, ("The General Theory of Machines") which was published in 1727.
. Since early childhood he had an interest in various mechanical things and as he described it later, "... I had not only opportunity of seeing how different things have been made but also manual work made me strong". His father sent Leupold to Zwickau's Latin
school. In 1695 Leupold started to study theology in the University of Jena but he did not give up his interest in "mechanical things" - he also was attending lectures of the well-known astronomer
and mathematician Erhard Weigel
. Shortly after that Leupold switched to the University of Wittenberg but because of financial situation he continued his studies in the University of Leipzig
where he could support himself by private tutoring and working as a craftsmen. He was helping to design and build many instruments needed for experimental physics studies. In 1699 Leupold's interests had fully changed to mechanics
and mathematics.
In the 17th century, the main instruments for experimental physics were the telescope
, the microscope
, the pendulum clock
and the vacuum pump
, invented in 1656 by Otto von Guericke
. 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 an advice of its president G. W. Leibniz 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 Theatri Machinarum. It was the first systematic analysis of mechanical engineering. It included, ahead of its time, a design for a high-pressure noncondensing steam engine
, the likes of which were not built until the early 19th century.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
physicist
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
, scientist
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, mathematician
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, instrument maker, mining commissioner and an engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
. He wrote the important and popular book Theatrum Machinarum Generale, ("The General Theory of Machines") which was published in 1727.
Early life
Jacob Leupold was born on July 22, 1674 as a son of a craftsman in the village near ZwickauZwickau
Zwickau in Germany, former seat of the government of the south-western region of the Free State of Saxony, belongs to an industrial and economical core region. Nowadays it is the capital city of the district of Zwickau...
. Since early childhood he had an interest in various mechanical things and as he described it later, "... I had not only opportunity of seeing how different things have been made but also manual work made me strong". His father sent Leupold to Zwickau's Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
school. In 1695 Leupold started to study theology in the University of Jena but he did not give up his interest in "mechanical things" - he also was attending lectures of the well-known astronomer
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
and mathematician Erhard Weigel
Erhard Weigel
Erhard Weigel was a German mathematician, astronomer and philosopher.He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Leipzig. From 1653 until his death he was professor of mathematics at Jena University. He was the teacher of Leibniz in 1663, and other notable students...
. Shortly after that Leupold switched to the University of Wittenberg but because of financial situation he continued his studies in the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
where he could support himself by private tutoring and working as a craftsmen. He was helping to design and build many instruments needed for experimental physics studies. In 1699 Leupold's interests had fully changed to mechanics
Mechanics
Mechanics is the branch of physics concerned with the behavior of physical bodies when subjected to forces or displacements, and the subsequent effects of the bodies on their environment....
and mathematics.
Working life
In 1701 Leupold got a position as an economist in George Military Hospital thus obtaining 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
Telescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
, the microscope
Microscope
A microscope is an instrument used to see objects that are too small for the naked eye. The science of investigating small objects using such an instrument is called microscopy...
, the pendulum clock
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 resonant device; it swings back and forth in a precise time interval dependent on its length, and resists swinging at other rates...
and the vacuum pump
Vacuum pump
A vacuum pump is a device that removes gas molecules from a sealed volume in order to leave behind a partial vacuum. The first vacuum pump was invented in 1650 by Otto von Guericke.- Types :Pumps can be broadly categorized according to three techniques:...
, invented in 1656 by Otto von Guericke
Otto von Guericke
Otto von Guericke was a German scientist, inventor, and politician...
. 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 an advice of its president G. W. Leibniz 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 Theatri Machinarum. It was the first systematic analysis of mechanical engineering. It included, ahead of its time, a design for a high-pressure noncondensing steam engine
Steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
, the likes of which were not built until the early 19th century.