[meteorite-list] Part II: American David Rittenhouse (Warning - Pre-Chladni)

From: MexicoDoug <mexicodoug_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2011 06:23:10 -0400 (EDT)
Message-ID: <8CE5F84E57E2AC6-1E54-32331_at_webmail-d018.sysops.aol.com>

Dear list,

OK, let me change the tone a bit and remind you that we left off with
Franklin's death in 1790, Chladni playing his musical instrument for a
physicist who told him to dig through the Philosophical Society
Journals to explain meteors, in a similar fashion Franklin tried to
explain what the other light in the sky was-lightning.

We have the American Astronomer, David Rittenhouse taking the
presidency of the American Philosophical Society at Franklin's passing
in 1790 and until his death in 1796. This interval was precisely the
time Chladni, who had a lifelong connection to Franklin through music,
probably of great respect, was in the library reading obsessively the
accounts of the Philosophical Societies looking for information about
meteor accounts.

As Franklin must have been a larger than life figure in Chladni's
world, let's say now that Chladni may have admired him, undoubtedly he
read the Transactions of the American Philosophical Society where
Franklin published more than any other and Franklin greatly respected
Rittenhouse as a great astronomer. Independently, Rittenhouse had a
great reputation among Europeans as a first class astronomer, which was
shocking that it could be possible to some given the adverse conditions
in the colonies ref:

You can read the potential electrical explanation Rittenhouse touches
upon and be certain he discussed this with his great buddy Ben Franklin
(He was the Chairman at the time of the Astronomy Department at the
University of Pennsylvania, which Ben Franklin founded and they were
great friends). So we can safely assume now that Franklin had a
similar line of thinking and it may not have been contentiously
"electrical" when talking about the meteor phenomenon.

What follows is the text of the original Letters exchanged between
Rittenhouse and John Page a fellow astronomer. In this exchange you
can see what is likely the first triangulation of a bolide, the first
theory that a a bolide or meteor produces light by passing dense
material that is sufficiently solid to resist immediate destruction
upon passing through the atmosphere. You can also find the height at
which the luminous path begins reasonably calculated, and you can find
the question on why these bodies from space at one point compared to
iron filings don't hit people and buildings more often, being early
references to hammer stones or irons.

You can also find the convincing scientific arguments on why they have
mass, are from space in their own independent orbits and not from earth
and occur upon chance intersection with earth's trip around the Sun.

The only thing we are missing is the meteorite itself which was
conjectured.

The witness reports these gentlemen made was so convincing, published
10 years before Chladni, and given Chaldni's special connection to
Franklin and now Rittenhouse's being the president of the American
Society at just the right time ... the only question I have is to what
degree Chladni references this prior published work in his work.

Thus, the situation in Europe was very different than that among the
Americans ... where the question being asked was not, "How can rocks
fall from the sky", but rather, How can't rocks fall from the sky?

Transactions of the American Philosophical

Society

Letters on the ACCOUNT OF A METEOR


>From John Page, Esq., to David

Rittenhouse, Esq.

Williamsburg, December 4, 1779

Read May 2, 1783

...recalls to my mind the meteor that was seen in many distant places
in Virginia on thwe 31st of October at about 6:10 PM It was what is
vulgarly called a falling star. It fell as seen at Rosewell about
three or four degrees to the north of west and left a bright trail of
light behind i; which extended from the horizon perpendicularly above 7
degrees; unluckily I lost view of it when falling, but was called out
time enough to see the grand and beautiful appearance of its trail of
light. It was seen for near 15 minutes, it was as bright as shining
silver, and broad as the enlightened part pf the new moon, when first
visible about 7 degrees in length, it might be represented by number 1
(Doug: see figure www.diogenite.com/jpage.jpg ), when I saw it first,
and by the other figures at intervals of about a minute after. Just
before it disappeared, it resembled the edge of a cloud. The sky was
remarkably clear and serene. It appeared in the same manner exactly to
several gentlemen above an hundred miles from Rosewell, but on a
different point of the compass. I have not yet so accurate an account
of its bearing as to ascertain its height and distance. Did you see
anything of it?
I am, dear sir, yours most sincerely,
JOHN PAGE.


from David Rittenhouse, Esquire, to John Page, Esquire

Philadelphia, January 16, 1780

Read May 2, 1783

...The Extraordinary Meteor you mention was likewise visible here, the
air being serene and clear.. I did not see it until the bright streak
was become very crooked, it then bore 70 degrees W. nearly, from
Philadelphia, and comparing this course with that observed by you,
adding 2.5 degrees for the depression of that place below your horizon,
its entire apparent altitude above the spot where it fell was 9.5
degrees which, on a radius of 365 miles, will be 61 miles perpendicular
height. The breadth of the luminous vapor was, I think, in some
places, when I saw it, not less than a quarter of a degree; this at 480
miles distancemust have been at least two miles.

It was certainly a grand appearance near the place where it fell, if
any human eye was there. May not these shooting stars be bodies
altogether foreign to the earth and its atmosphere, accidentally
meeting with it as they are swiftly traveling the great void of space?
And may they not, either electrically or by some other means, excite a
luminous appearance on entering our atmosphere? I am inclined to this
opinion for the following reasons: 1st It is not probable that meteors
should be generated in the air at the height of 50 to 60 miles, on
account of its extreme rareness (Doug: rareness=low density); and many
falling stars, besides this, are known with certainty to have been at
very great heights. 2ndly. Their motions cannot be owing to gravity,
for they descend in all directions, and but seldom perpendicularly to
the horizon. Besides, their velocities are much too great. This
meteor would not have fallen by the force of gravity from the place
where it first appeared, to the earth, in less than two minutes of
time; nor in less than 10 seconds, if we suppose it is impelled by
gravity from the remotest distance. They are nevertheless affected by
gravity in some manner, for I cannot find that any one was ever
observed to ascend upwards in its course.

It is true that difficulties will likewise occur, if we suppose them to
be foreign bodies of sufficient density to preserve such great degrees
of velocity even in passing through the atmosphere, for it may be asked
why they do not frequently strike the earth, buildings, etc. Perhaps
they are generally, if not always, exploded in passing through the air,
something in the manner that filing of steel are exploded in passing
through the flame of a candle. And at the same time that they afford
us occasion the variety and
Immensity of the Creator's works, they may perhaps produce some
important and necessary effects in the atmosphere surrounding this
globe, for the welfare of man and its other inhabitants.

I am, dear sir, your very affectionate friend
And very humble servant
DAVID RITTENHOUSE

Clearly David Rittenhouse needs to be written into the history of
meteoritics far more than he has been. Next time I go to Rittenhouse
square in Philadelphia and visit the Franklin Institute itwill be with
renewed respect.

Kindest wishes
Doug

PS this is one of the best witness account I've ever read
Would anyone like to try a modern triangulation - the data is better
than you get nowadays, that's for sure








-----Original Message-----
From: MexicoDoug <mexicodoug at aim.com>
To: Meteorite-list <Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Sun, Oct 23, 2011 4:08 am
Subject: [meteorite-list] On the Father of Meteoritics (Warning -
Original Radical Theory)


Dear List, an account of the coming of age of Chladni which may rock
the boat a bit:

"When in the course of scientific endeavors it becomes necessary for
one scientist to dissolve the bonds which have connected them with
another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and
equal station to which the God-given phenomenon of meteoritics entitle
them, a decent dignity for one's inventions requires that they should
declare the causes which impel them to the separation...."

Such was the case for Ernst F. F. Chladni, who quite abruptly focused
his interest in "fathering" meteoritics in the early 1790's: an
accomplished musician and musical instrument designer with an interest
in waves, electricity, and physics. He suddenly dedicated some time to
a radical theory of meteoritics; the question is....What *sparked* his
sudden and intensive, obsessive-compulsive interest? No one really
knows, excepts, perhaps the Shadow. Read on please, for my theory
after a discusson wih my Shadow...

First we must define what exactly was on Chladni's mind during those
years and more importantly what was his mindset? Well, he was
recovering from a failed attempt to promote his musical instrument
which he toured playing in hope to gain some recognition. His
instrument never became popular. The reason was not because it was bad
... but rather because there was a superior instrument that displaced
it in public events all the time. By 1790, he gave it up, and quite
frustrated he was with his extensive efforts.

Chladni's first love was music and acoustics. It is often cited that
his interest in meteoritics was suddenly fomented by conversations with
Georg Christoph Lichtenberg in 1791-1793. But Lichtenberg himself had
nothing to say about it, despite making notes of the meetings and
commenting that Chladni was working on a new musical instrument to
supplant his previous failed one.

A world away lived the bane of Chladni's existence, until his death in
1790: one Dr. Benjamin Franklin, American genius, and the antithesis of
everything Chladni socially was... Franklin was the model of an
brilliant human being, even able to have the French aristocracy eat out
of his hand while founding the United States of America, all in his
spare time while he pursued intellectual pursuits of everything and
frequently made great scientific advancements with a sort of Midas'
Touch with only a wit that could beat them. Such was the case with the
armonica, a musical instrument that was a clever adaptation of sound
waves produced by utilizing friction like the rubbing on a wine glass
which allowed the simultaneous playing of nearly a dozen notes. This
musical instrument precisely was the one that displaced Chladni's who
otherwise might have found more success. Franklin's instrument was an
American contribution to Europe that even the great composers wrote
parts for as Chladni's own foundered. How frustrating it must have
been.

At heart, Dr. Franklin was truly a scientist and had managed some of
the most truly remarkable experiments and even was credited as being
the father of electricity after harnassing the meteorological
phenomenon of lightning and proving exactly what it was: electricity.
There was nothing he couldn't do and yet, he always got all the women,
fame and power he wished.

On the other hand Chladni was forced into a career he had no interest
in doing by an overpowering father, had absolutely no luck with the
woman and was spurned by his contemporaries when he initially tried to
present his ideas to his peers. Bummer to be Chladni in 1790.

But Franklin died in 1790. Chladni didn't waste a moment, dropping his
failed instrument and immediately appropriated Franklin's armonica a
step further and redesigned a new instrument in 1791 he named,
immodestly CHLADNI'S EUPHONIUM (basically a synonym for armonica but
addiding his name for recognition) he hoped would be superior - and
finally, Franklin was dead and unable to wittily comment or compete.
It was a prototype of that instrument he was playing for Lichtenberg.

After all those years of playing second fiddle, it was only natural
that Franklin's scientific triumphs were a subject of discussion; after
all the new instrument was a direct improvement on Franklin's intended
to supplant it at best... and victory would be as sweet as waking among
the muses, especially for Chladni who was trained as a lawyer with all
the benefits and vices that the practice of law breeds.

One noteable subject of Franklin's successes was in meteorology, and
especially legendary, regarding the proof that lightning bolts were
composed of electricity. Franklin also went on record saying meteors
were probably an electrical phenomenon as well. Well, these strange
rocks were turning up at that time and there were murmurs that they
came from the sky. Chladni became obsessed with making his mark (and
in the process showing Franklin was wrong) by choosing the other light
phenomenon - meteors - just as Franklin had chosen a phenomenon, just
as Franklin had inspired his instrument - in hopes finally making a
reputation for himself and perhaps a dab of revenge for all those years
lost with his instrument due to Franklin superior design.

Motive in any investigation is always sought. Need Chladni more
motive? ;-) He released his first improved design utilizing Franklin's
armonica concepts directly, suddenly became obsessed with with proving
meteors were not electrical phenomena but rather rocks; immersed
himself in the library for a couple of months in a mission (much like
many contemporary meteorite folk we've seen battle it out on the list
when one scoops the other on a new fall), published his book and in the
process of his madness made the assertion that the rocks came from
space, a true contribution; and then was immediately ridiculed and
mocked ... his contemporaries new what he was up to and this attenuated
the believability of his work.

Then immdiatey after publishing, he dropped meteorites, never to return
again to the field and gort to work building a new second generation
musical instrument. Both instruments he designed and built in the
1790's met with success and Chladni finally could gain some respect he
earned after a lifetime of brandishing by fire.

The above theory would explain motivation and why Chladni's work in
meteoritics was as efemeral as the meteors themselves.

We should say a little more about Ben's beliefs and how they
potentially influenced Chladni, as clearly, the American Philosophical
Society, founded by Franklin who was the first president published a
Journal just like the Liondon Society, and the Journal was undoubtably
read by Chladni. The first president of the Society was Franklin, and
he was followed by the great Astronomer Early American astronomer David
Rittenhouse, as the second president, who predated much of Chladni's
idea on cosmic origins and as the successor of Franklin, undoubtably
would have been an interesting subject of study for Chladni as he
studied those late nights in the library for that intriguingly brief
period of time. As a matter of fact, Chladni himself said Lichtenberg
told him to immerse himself reading Philosophical Transactions in the
library. What were the Americans saying about meteors that might tip
off Chladni and that Lichtenberg definitely read as well?

Let me quote a passage of a post I made to the List in 2006 excerping a
letter from Rittenhouse to Franklin, and to comment that Franklin
likely had a friendly rivalry with Rittenhouse as to the cosmic origin
of meteorites and predated Chladni's "original" contribution by a
number of years:

"Ben believed for a time that meteors were also caused by electricity,
however his contemporary, the great Astronomer Early American
astronomer David
Rittenhouse, had other thoughts and most obviously discussed them at
length with
Franklin. They were both founders and officers in the American
Philosophical
Society - the Innovative and incomparable Academic Ivory Tower in the
unique
American tradition of their time responsible for adding scientific
thought
to the American Revolution and much beyond...Upon Franklin's death,
Rittenhouse became the second president of the Society until his own
death five years
later.

Eleven years before Ben's death, On "All Hallow's Eve", October 31,
1779,
Rittenhouse had witnessed a 30-second bolide accompanied by sonic booms
near
Philadelphia, where he was the head of the University of Pennsylvania's
Astronomy department...as the war of American Independence was still in
Gear...

Rittenhouse described the event in a letter purportedly to Franklin:
"Leaving behind it a bright trail of light of a fine Silver Color,
which
continued Visible about 20 minutes, altho' but half an hour after
Sunset, and
then gradually disappeared, after changing from a Strait line to a very
crooked
one. [Meteors are] bodies altogether foreign to this Earth, but meeting
with
it, in its Annual Orbit, are attracted by it, and on entering our
Atmosphere
take fire and are exploded, something in the manner Steel filings are,
on
passing thro' the flame of a Candle. [It made a] glorious appearance at
the
distance of a few miles, yet from its prodigious Magnitude it must have
been
quite terrible. [Had the] Cataract fallen on the plain where on
Philadelphia
stands, half its inhabitants would probably been [sic] drowned."

In the absence of the word "bolide", a cataract most certainly is the
best
word choice available to describe the phenomenon. It was brighter than
the
Sun, "a half hour after Sunset". "

Chladni clearly couldn't make it on his own, and found it easier to But
I could be wrong - though I don't mind championing the theory though
there may be a few hole in it that doesnt mean it isn't a very good
explanation ;-), I just wish I had more time to research my logical
assertations.

PS Franklin actually must have a smile in his grave now that we know
meteors in fact are an electrical phenomenon.

Kindest wishes
Franklin's Heirs
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Received on Sun 23 Oct 2011 06:23:10 AM PDT