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Materiarum quarundam gravitates specificae

Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit · 1724

Fahrenheit's 1724 table listing the specific gravities of various metals and materials.

This is Fahrenheit's own measurements of material densities, showing his breadth as a practical scientist.

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Printed page numbered 114 from a journal. Top text describes dog experiments with tinctures. Below a rule, a section heading reads 'VI. Materiarum quarundam gravitates Specificae' by D. G. Fahrenheit, followed by a list of metals and materials with specific gravity values.
Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit, Materiarum quarundam gravitates specificae, 1724. Philosophical Transactions, vol. 33, Royal Society, London.

About this source

What it is

This is a written work by Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit, published in 1724 in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, volume 33. It lists the specific gravity of metals and other materials measured at different times.

Why it matters

Measuring the specific gravity of materials was useful for chemistry, trade and craftsmanship in the 1700s. This table shows Fahrenheit working as a practical experimenter, carefully testing many substances rather than only building thermometers.

Look closer

  • Why might someone need to know the exact specific gravity of metals like gold, silver or copper?
  • What does the list format tell you about how scientific data was organized before computers?
  • What is missing from this table that would help us understand how the measurements were made?

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Scanned page 1 of a 1724 journal article titled 'Experimenta circa gradum caloris liquorum nonnullorum ebullientium instituta' by Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit, printed in Latin with a page number '(1)' at top and 'Vol. XXXIII' footer.Document

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Experimenta circa gradum caloris liquorum nonnullorum ebullientium instituta

Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit · 1724

Handwritten cursive signature in ink on a white background: large looping initials D and G, with the surname written below as 'renheit' and a flourished 'Fa' to the right, forming Fahrenheit's signature.Document

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Fahrenheit's Last Will Signature

Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit · 11 September 1736

Engraved plate titled 'Philosoph. Transact. N° 385' with eight numbered figures (I to VIII) of glass barometer and thermometer apparatus, including tubes, bulbs, scales, and stands, drawn in black and white.Document

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Barometri novi descriptio

Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit · 1724

Black handwritten signature on a white background reading D. G. Fahrenheit in flowing cursive script, with large looping initial letters and a long underline-like stroke.Document

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Signature of Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit

Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit

A bronze memorial plaque on a white wall with Dutch text reading 'In de Kloosterkerk werd begraven Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit', with birth and death details and a relief of a thermometer in the center.Artifact

Secondary source

Grave of Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit

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