Mercury was used as a bearing material in 19th century lighthouses. The whole rotating lens assembly floated in a bath of mercury, only contacting the rest of the mechanism where the drive engaged and at the top to keep it from tipping. These mechanisms were driven by a falling weight or wound spring, so having a low drag bearing saved the keeper a lot of energy winding things up. (Also, when Ron says "minus 40 degree temperatures" that's in C and F scale, as the two coincide at -40.)
Another interesting application! Thanks for that. It reminds me of the Michelson-Morley experiment which disproved the existence of the aether, and helped prove the special theory of relativity. That one was performed on a huge block of stone floating in a pool of Mercury, so the stone with its interferometer could be smoothly rotated. (Look it up!) I wish I had time to illustrate all the applications! Ron
I’m so glad that we have an easily available low temperature liquid metal called gallium that’s neither horrifically reactive (and super expensive) like cesium nor horrifically toxic like mercury.
Curiously, both eat into aluminum. Ron showed the effects in his video with gallium. I think mercury is banned from airplanes, but I don't know about gallium.
Are you still thinking about re-doing nitrogen? If only they would've let you record your original nitrogen presentation from many years ago, I wouldn't have to ask :(
Well, I'm not thinking MUCH about re-doing Nitrogen right now. I'm only thinking about moving forward at the moment. But there aren't THAT many interesting elements left, really... Ron
Mercury was used as a bearing material in 19th century lighthouses. The whole rotating lens assembly floated in a bath of mercury, only contacting the rest of the mechanism where the drive engaged and at the top to keep it from tipping. These mechanisms were driven by a falling weight or wound spring, so having a low drag bearing saved the keeper a lot of energy winding things up.
(Also, when Ron says "minus 40 degree temperatures" that's in C and F scale, as the two coincide at -40.)
Another interesting application! Thanks for that. It reminds me of the Michelson-Morley experiment which disproved the existence of the aether, and helped prove the special theory of relativity. That one was performed on a huge block of stone floating in a pool of Mercury, so the stone with its interferometer could be smoothly rotated. (Look it up!)
I wish I had time to illustrate all the applications!
Ron
Wow!! Super amazing, detailed and Educational Videos!
Thank You :)
You're very welcome!
Very interesting! Thank you.
It's my pleasure!
Mercury does have an impressive history in science, but alas.
I’m so glad that we have an easily available low temperature liquid metal called gallium that’s neither horrifically reactive (and super expensive) like cesium nor horrifically toxic like mercury.
Curiously, both eat into aluminum. Ron showed the effects in his video with gallium. I think mercury is banned from airplanes, but I don't know about gallium.
Here are the regs:
www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/173.162
Basically, allowed, but must be packaged properly.
Ron
@@ronhipschman Thanks!
Are you still thinking about re-doing nitrogen?
If only they would've let you record your original nitrogen presentation from many years ago, I wouldn't have to ask :(
Well, I'm not thinking MUCH about re-doing Nitrogen right now. I'm only thinking about moving forward at the moment. But there aren't THAT many interesting elements left, really...
Ron
@@ronhipschman The next three are, at least.
How would one detox mercury?