Berti, G
Name: Gasparo Berti
Achievements: His experimental apparatus and suggestions ultimately led to the discovery of the vacuum
Born: c.1600; Mantua (possibly), Italy
Died: 1643; Rome, Italy (Aed 43)
Field & Discipline: Science; Physics; Astronomy; Physicist; Astronomer
Language: Italian
Father: Unknown
Mother: Unknown
Siblings: Unknown
Spouse: Unknown
Children: Unknown
Education: Unknown
Major Work:
Prototype water barometer (1643)
Life & Times:
Berti first appears in the records in 1629, as a collaborator in the survey and mapping of the Roman catacombs, a project directly under the patronage of Cardinal Francesco Barberini, and financed in part by the Knights of Malta. In 1636 he appears in a letter from Luc Holste to [known to] Peiresc* as an expert in mathematics and in the construction of mathematical instruments, and in 1638 he was recommended for a chair of mathematics by Benedetto Castelli.
During the 1630’s several of his astronomical observations, most notably those of an eclipse (recorded by [work related to] Gassendi*) and his attempt to define the latitude of Rome by a refinement of the earlier observations (by Christopher Clavius) of the elevation of the pole star at Rome were reported throughout the scientific world of Europe.
Berti is best remembered as a physicist, as it was his experimental apparatus, constructed in Rome probably 1642-43, that ultimately led to [anticipated] Torricelli's* important work on atmospheric pressure and the vacuum. Berti's experiments appear to have been inspired by the work of [inspired by] Galileo*, who in his 'Discorsi' (1638) argued that water could not be raised more than around 30 feet by a suction pump. Berti built an apparatus which consisted of a lead tube (or "siphon") around 36 feet long, bent downwards at the top and fitted at each end with a valve submerged in a container filled
with water.
In Berti's apparatus the water rose to more than 30 feet, so disproving Galileo's theory. In 1643 Berti constructed a more elaborate apparatus (and attached to the facade of his house) which consisted of a lead tube about 36 feet long that terminated at its lower end in a valve and at its upper end in a globe, originally of copper and later of glass, with, from the point where the globe and tube joined, a second lead tube ending in a valve leading up to a window about 10 metres above the pavement.
On writing to Torricelli about this experiment, during which the water again rose to more than 30 feet), Magiotti suggested that if seawater (a liquid more dense than fresh water) were used, a lower level would result - the suggestion that led to Torricelli's barometric experiments using mercury.
Extra Connections: He worked with [worked with] Ricci*
Assessment: Made significant contributions towards the discovery of the vacuum.
Oneliner: Gasparo Berti, who anticipated the discovery of the vacuum
Bibliography:
- Dictionary of Scientific Biography.