The Pneumatic Inkwell and the Barometer

• Autores: Jr. Thomas B. Greenslade
• Localización: The Physics Teacher, ISSN 0031-921X, Vol. 62, Nº. 5, 2024, págs. 360-360
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Before the eras of the fountain and ballpoint pen, steel pen points in handles were dipped into pots of ink. Most inkwells had a flip-up lid, but when this was left open, the water-based ink evaporated and became gummy. The pneumatic inkwell, by exposing only a small surface of ink to the air, solves this problem. On a visit to the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Brigham Young University to give a lecture, I was shown a pneumatic inkwell, and, as I thought more about the design, I realized that understanding its operation led to considerations of barometers, New England storm glasses, and hummingbird feeders.