TITLE:
Theoretical Reconstruction of Galileo’s Two-Bucket Experiment
AUTHORS:
Sylvio R. Bistafa
KEYWORDS:
Galilean Studies, History of Science, History of Scientific Instruments
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Historical Studies,
Vol.7 No.3,
August
22,
2018
ABSTRACT: In the present work, the theoretical solution of a
problem extracted from a historical context is addressed, in which Galileo
supposedly conducted an experiment to measure the percussion force of a water
jet. The experimental apparatus consists of a balance, in which a counterweight
hangs on to one of its extremities, and two buckets hang on to the other
extremity. The water jet from the bottom of the upper bucket strikes the lower
bucket. The objective is to find the jet percussion force on the lower bucket.
The result of the analysis revealed that the method proposed by Galileo for the
calculation of the jet percussion force is incorrect. The analysis also
revealed that the resultant force during the process is practically null, which
would make Galileo’s account of the major movements of the balance credible,
despite his having not identified all the forces acting on the system.