What Are All the Inventions Benjamin Franklin Made?
Look at any U.S. $100 bill and emblazoned on the front is a portrait of Benjamin Franklin. This Revolutionary War-period American was a printer, statesman and inventor. His inventions solved practical challenges of the time.
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History
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Franklin was born in Boston in 1706 and became a printer. His interest in science led to discoveries, and these discoveries led to inventions.
The Franklin Stove
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Noting that fireplaces were dangerous and spewed much smoke, Franklin developed an "iron fireplace" that was designed to radiate more heat efficiently. It was safer and used less wood.
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Lightning Rod
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Franklin's famous key and kite experiment confirmed that lightning was electricity, and this led to the invention of the lightning rod. The rod soon was installed on city church steeples.
Bifocal Glasses
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While there is evidence that glasses date to before Christ, Franklin noted that convex and concave lenses corrected different vision problems and that some people needed both. He was the first to put the two together in one lens, and this "bifocal" corrected both nearsightedness and farsightedness.
Significance
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The basic concepts of Franklin's inventions are still valuable today. The bifocal lens and lightning rods are in wide use, and the Franklin stove still heats vacation cabins and, in some areas of the world, homes.
Other Inventions/Facts
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Franklin's other inventions include the odometer, which he attached to his carriage, and a "long arm," which had claws on its end and was used to grasp books on high shelves. His scientific endeavors and discoveries also include heat absorption, Gulf Stream measurement and storm tracking, and laid the foundation for later inventors.
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