Summery of the Cartesian diver

     This blog is about the Cartesian diver; it includes it's history, how it works, links, and question. The Cartesian diver is a tank full of air so it can float in water. So? What's so special about that? Well, the tank would be able to put the air under pressure so water can get in, therefor making the tank sink. That is very important for submarines because than they could sink and float on command. Also the nautilus uses the same technology, they use there shells like the tanks I just mentioned. How ever, if the tank leaks or breaks it won't work. That is very important for submarines because than they could sink and float on command without using to much energy (and frustration). The Cartesian diver was a great discovery.

Bibliography

"Cartesian diver." California Physical Science. 1999.

"Model Diver." Science in Action. 1988.

"Descartes' Diver." The Exploratorium Science Snackbook series. 1996.

"Descartes' Diver." Science Snackbook. 1991

How to make a Cartesian diver

1. Get a pipette.
2. Get a plastic bottle. You should be able to squeeze it.
3. Fill the bottle with water.
4. Fill the pipette with some water it should float, if it doesn't, you put to much water in the pipett.
5. Put the pipette in the bottle.
6. Screw the bottle cap on to the bottle TIGHTLY.
7. When you squeeze the bottle, it should sink, but when you let go, it will float again. Do not put the bottle upside down, or it will stop working and you will have to start over.

DIFFICULTY RATING: ULTRA EASY

Questions about the cartesian diver

• What are the advantages of the Cartesian diver?

      A: You can sink and float with a Cartesian diver, while submarines alone, are buoyant.

• How come Cartesian divers are called Cartesian divers?
• What uses Cartesian divers?

      A: Well, sometimes divers use it, but submarines always use it.

• What is a Cartesian diver?

      A: Read this blog and find out!

• Why bother make a whole blog about Cartesian divers?

History of the Cartesian Diver (most of it is copy and pasted)

The Cartesian diver was first described in writing in 1684, by Galileo's student, Raffaello. The term Cartesian, is thought to be from the last name of René Descartes, a French scientist, mathematician, and philosopher. Descartes was famous for saying, “I think, therefore I am”. Raffaelo Maggiotti, who is given credit for first describing the Cartesian diver or devil in writing (Rose, 1970). In a short pamphlet Maggiotti (1648, reprinted in Targioni-Tozzetti, Giovanni , 1780) speaks of the device as "my invention" ("L'invention mia non consiste nel caldo, o ned freddo; ma nella Renitenza all Compressione "). The diver has been falsely ascribed to Descartes (Damerow, 1994). The French do not refer to the diver as Cartesian but rather as ludion, a word derived from the Latin meaning actor, jester, wandering entertainer (Feral, 1994). URL 

http://www.ed.uiuc.edu/courses/CI241-science-Sp95/resources/philoToy/philoToy.html