Giuseppe Zamboni
Encyclopedia
Giuseppe Zamboni was an Italian Roman Catholic priest
and physicist
who invented the Zamboni pile
, an early electric battery
similar to the Voltaic pile
.
) in northern Italy
, in June 1776. Shortly after completing his studies in the seminary
at Verona, Abate Zamboni was appointed to the chair of physics in the lyceum of that city.
He died in Venice
on July 25, 1846.
which does not use an electrolyte
) which he invented in 1812. It consists of a number of paper discs coated with zinc
foil on one side and manganese dioxide on the other; the moisture of the paper serves as a conductor
.
By pressing a large number of such discs together in a glass tube, an electromotive force
can be obtained that is sufficient to deflect the leaves of an ordinary electroscope
. By bringing the terminal knobs of the pile near each other and suspending a light brass ball between them, Zamboni devised what was called an electrostatic clock
. The device is so named because the ball oscillating between the knobs looks like a pendulum
.
In the Oxford Electric Bell
experiment at the Clarendon Laboratory
at Oxford University, the terminals of what is believed to be such a pile are fitted with bells that have been continuously ringing since the device was set up in 1840. Note that the Zamboni pile
is not a hypothetical perpetual motion
device, as all action will eventually cease when the zinc is completely oxidized or the manganese exhausted.
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
who invented the Zamboni pile
Zamboni pile
The Zamboni pile is an early electric battery, invented by Giuseppe Zamboni in 1812.A Zamboni pile is an "electrostatic battery" and is constructed from discs of silver foil, zinc foil, and paper...
, an early electric battery
Battery (electricity)
An electrical battery is one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Since the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta and especially since the technically improved Daniell cell in 1836, batteries have become a common power...
similar to the Voltaic pile
Voltaic pile
A voltaic pile is a set of individual Galvanic cells placed in series. The voltaic pile, invented by Alessandro Volta in 1800, was the first electric battery...
.
Biography
He was born in either Venice (or, depending on the source, VeronaVerona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
) in northern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, in June 1776. Shortly after completing his studies in the seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
at Verona, Abate Zamboni was appointed to the chair of physics in the lyceum of that city.
He died in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
on July 25, 1846.
Invention
Zamboni is known to students of physics for an improved version of the dry pile (an electric batteryBattery (electricity)
An electrical battery is one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Since the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta and especially since the technically improved Daniell cell in 1836, batteries have become a common power...
which does not use an electrolyte
Electrolyte
In chemistry, an electrolyte is any substance containing free ions that make the substance electrically conductive. The most typical electrolyte is an ionic solution, but molten electrolytes and solid electrolytes are also possible....
) which he invented in 1812. It consists of a number of paper discs coated with zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
foil on one side and manganese dioxide on the other; the moisture of the paper serves as a conductor
Electrical conductor
In physics and electrical engineering, a conductor is a material which contains movable electric charges. In metallic conductors such as copper or aluminum, the movable charged particles are electrons...
.
By pressing a large number of such discs together in a glass tube, an electromotive force
Electromotive force
In physics, electromotive force, emf , or electromotance refers to voltage generated by a battery or by the magnetic force according to Faraday's Law, which states that a time varying magnetic field will induce an electric current.It is important to note that the electromotive "force" is not a...
can be obtained that is sufficient to deflect the leaves of an ordinary electroscope
Electroscope
An electroscope is an early scientific instrument that is used to detect the presence and magnitude of electric charge on a body. It was the first electrical measuring instrument. The first electroscope, a pivoted needle called the versorium, was invented by British physician William Gilbert...
. By bringing the terminal knobs of the pile near each other and suspending a light brass ball between them, Zamboni devised what was called an electrostatic clock
Electric clock
An electric clock is a clock that is powered by electricity instead of powered manually or by other sources of energy, specifically in order to wind the mainspring or to drive the pendulum or oscillator.-Classification:...
. The device is so named because the ball oscillating between the knobs looks like a pendulum
Pendulum
A pendulum is a weight suspended from a pivot so that it can swing freely. When a pendulum is displaced from its resting equilibrium position, it is subject to a restoring force due to gravity that will accelerate it back toward the equilibrium position...
.
In the Oxford Electric Bell
Oxford Electric Bell
The Oxford Electric Bell or Clarendon Dry Pile is an experimental electric bell that was set up in 1840 and which has rung almost continuously ever since. It is located in the foyer of the Clarendon Laboratory at the University of Oxford, England...
experiment at the Clarendon Laboratory
Clarendon Laboratory
The Clarendon Laboratory, located on Parks Road with the Science Area in Oxford, England , is part of the Physics Department at Oxford University...
at Oxford University, the terminals of what is believed to be such a pile are fitted with bells that have been continuously ringing since the device was set up in 1840. Note that the Zamboni pile
Zamboni pile
The Zamboni pile is an early electric battery, invented by Giuseppe Zamboni in 1812.A Zamboni pile is an "electrostatic battery" and is constructed from discs of silver foil, zinc foil, and paper...
is not a hypothetical perpetual motion
Perpetual motion
Perpetual motion describes hypothetical machines that operate or produce useful work indefinitely and, more generally, hypothetical machines that produce more work or energy than they consume, whether they might operate indefinitely or not....
device, as all action will eventually cease when the zinc is completely oxidized or the manganese exhausted.