The debates on the nature of electricity in the second half of the eighteenth century

• Grant number: 05/04611-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2006
• End date: March 31, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - History - History of Science
• Principal Investigator: Cibelle Celestino Silva
• Grantee: Cibelle Celestino Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This proposal investigates the debate on the nature of electricity that took place in the second half of the eighteenth century. The goal of this project is to understand the process that lead to the prevailing notion that Franklin’s theory quickly triumphed over Nollet’s rival theory in the early 1750’s. This research will make extensive use of the material got at Dibner Library, in Washington-DC, USA, during the residence realized in this institution in 2004 and 2005. (AU)