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John Tyndall, born Aug 2, 1820 died Dec 4, Diamagnetism, Nov 28, 1849
Diamagnetism is the phenomenon in which a strong magnet influences non-magnetic objects. His experiments consisted mostly of crystalline bodies suspended in a magnetic field. These fields being of a strong magnetic force acting upon the non magnetic crystal. He delivered a discourse on the subject at the Royal Institution.
Tyndall, John. “Discovery Of Diamagnetism-Researches On MagneCrystallic Action.” Faraday as a Discoverer, pp. 251
Copper-tube -
John Tyndall, born Aug 2, 1820 died Dec 4, 1893, Heat as a Mode of Motion, 1869
Tyndall put forth the notion of using heat to create motion. In one of his experiments he uses a bladder filled with air and records the increase of internal pressure with the presence of heat. He presented his findings at a lecture. “This, then, is a simple illustration of the expansive force of heat, and I have here an apparatus intended to show you the same fact in another manner.” (Tyndall, 1869, p 80).
Tyndall, John. Heat Considered as A Mode of Motion. New York : D. Appleton, 1869. -
John Tyndall, born Aug 2, 1820 died Dec 4, 1893, Total Internal Reflection, 1870
This experiment demonstrated the ability of water to continually reflect and contain a beam of light to a distance relative to the power of the light source. He noted, once it entered it would reflect perpendicular inside and later exit parallel to the stream. This ability led to the use of the fiber optics we have today.
Tyndall, John. “Notes of a Course of Nine Lectures on Light.” Nature, 1869.
Tyndall's Total Internal Reflection of Light -
John Tyndall, born Aug 2, 1820 died Dec 4, 1893, Fireman's Respirator, 1871
A large contribution Tyndall made to mankind is the development of the fireman's respirator. Tyndall wrote about his new invention: a "fireman's respirator" that used the Stenhouse filters along with an assortment of combinations from other brething devices. This allowed for longer searches and an added layer of safety to firefighters.
Tyndall, John. “V. On Some Recent Experiments with a Fireman’s Respirator.” Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, vol. 22 -
John Tyndall, born Aug 2, 1820 died Dec 4, 1893, Absorption of heat by gases, Dec 31, 1860
Tyndall’s findings would lead to the study of climate change as we know it today. He demonstrated that gases in the atmosphere will absorb heat at different degrees; he didn't know it, but he discovered the molecular basis for the greenhouse effect, which is a large cause for the climate changes we have seen to this day.
Tyndall, John. “The Absorption and Radiation of Heat by Gases and Vapours, and on the Physical Connexion of Radiation, Absorption, and Conduction.” The Bakerian Lecture.
