We tend to think that the latest technology is always best, and while improvements on old designs yield faster and more efficient computers, cars and phones, there are still a few ancient inventions that we still use and need during these modern times. Some of these helpful inventions have changed little over time, while others have been improved upon.
In ancient times, the Greeks, Romans and the Chinese all used wheelbarrows to help them transfer heavy loads from one area to another. The ancient designs have changed little over the centuries, and this helpful invention is still in wide use today. Obviously, our current wheelbarrows are made of steel with rubber wheels, while stone and wood were used in ancient times. The Chinese even used a wheelbarrow with a wind sail to make carrying a heavy load even easier.
For millions of years, man has used tools, and in the earliest of times, strong stones were used as hammers. Today, just about every house in the world possesses some type of hammer, typically a claw hammer that can be used to apply force or to remove nails. Evidence of hammers that look quite a bit like these every day hammers have been found to be as many as 10,000 years old,and that's just in the United States.
There are people whose whole life revolves around metrology, otherwise known as the science of measurement. Among the many tools used by these scientists, as well as surveyors and aerospace engineers, is the theodolite. This tool is helpful because it allows the user to measure angles in both planes, which obviously has many applications. This device is not something new, however, and the theodolites we see today are quite similar to those constructed in the late 18th century. The earliest theodolites were constructed in the early 16th century.
While there are many cool devices on ships and boats today, such as depth finders and RADAR, the old standbys are still on many sea-faring vessels. Many different types of telescopes are still used, even on naval warships. Navigational sextants also are still used to measure the angle that exists between two visible objects. The first sextant was created in the mid 1700s, but Sir Isaac Newton was the first to dream up a similar type of device. Today's sextants look quite similar to those that have been used for the last several hundred years.
While not precisely ancient, the clinometer is an important tool that dates back more than 100 years. This tool measures the angles of slope in relation to gravity, and sometimes you will hear this tool called an inclinometer or even a tilt gauge or tilt meter. These types of measurements are essential to many different professions, from those who design airplanes and space craft to those who study volcanoes and even for those who are creating the slopes at a new ski resort.
In ancient times, the Greeks, Romans and the Chinese all used wheelbarrows to help them transfer heavy loads from one area to another. The ancient designs have changed little over the centuries, and this helpful invention is still in wide use today. Obviously, our current wheelbarrows are made of steel with rubber wheels, while stone and wood were used in ancient times. The Chinese even used a wheelbarrow with a wind sail to make carrying a heavy load even easier.
For millions of years, man has used tools, and in the earliest of times, strong stones were used as hammers. Today, just about every house in the world possesses some type of hammer, typically a claw hammer that can be used to apply force or to remove nails. Evidence of hammers that look quite a bit like these every day hammers have been found to be as many as 10,000 years old,and that's just in the United States.
There are people whose whole life revolves around metrology, otherwise known as the science of measurement. Among the many tools used by these scientists, as well as surveyors and aerospace engineers, is the theodolite. This tool is helpful because it allows the user to measure angles in both planes, which obviously has many applications. This device is not something new, however, and the theodolites we see today are quite similar to those constructed in the late 18th century. The earliest theodolites were constructed in the early 16th century.
While there are many cool devices on ships and boats today, such as depth finders and RADAR, the old standbys are still on many sea-faring vessels. Many different types of telescopes are still used, even on naval warships. Navigational sextants also are still used to measure the angle that exists between two visible objects. The first sextant was created in the mid 1700s, but Sir Isaac Newton was the first to dream up a similar type of device. Today's sextants look quite similar to those that have been used for the last several hundred years.
While not precisely ancient, the clinometer is an important tool that dates back more than 100 years. This tool measures the angles of slope in relation to gravity, and sometimes you will hear this tool called an inclinometer or even a tilt gauge or tilt meter. These types of measurements are essential to many different professions, from those who design airplanes and space craft to those who study volcanoes and even for those who are creating the slopes at a new ski resort.
About the Author:
Carey Bourdier loves blogging reviews on precision scientific instruments. For further info about surveying instruments like a compass tripod, or to discover other navigation instruments, visit WarrenKnight.com now.
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