Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Little Known Inventions That Have Improved Our World

By Carey Bourdier


The world is full of amazing inventions that make our lives easier. While inventions such as the light bulb and the automobile are obvious tools that have changed the world, there are many other precise instruments that have been invented that truly have changed the course of history, whether we know it or not.

A clinometer is an interesting device that is essential for surveyors and foresters. Simple clinometers can be used to measure the height of trees, but more precise clinometers are used to determine the slope or inclination. This is extremely important in surveying and construction. These instruments, also known as inclinometers, are used to determine the pitch and roll of both aircrafts and nautical vessels.

When it comes to surveying and the construction industry, it is essential that grade and the slope of land are precisely determined. Imagine what would happen if the ground beneath your house was uneven or sloped and the builder ignored the issue. Foundation problems pose serious risk to the integrity of structures. Roads also are designed to be as safe as possible by using clinometers. You often see speed limits altered based on the grade of the road. Beyond construction, there are clinometers specifically designed to ensure that machinery is aligned properly and precisely calibrated.

Another piece of equipment that can be used by surveyors, as well as several other occupations, is the theodolite. These instruments, which measure angles on the horizontal and the vertical plane, have obvious surveying uses, but they also are used in meteorology. A meteorologist can use a balloon observation theodolite or an electronic meteorlogical theodolite to help them establish weather patterns. Even rocket scientists use theodolites to help them precisely track the flights of rockets.

When one thinks about a telescope, astronomy is probably one of the first things that will spring to mind. While it is true that telescopes are used to view distant objects, such as stars and other celestial objects, there are many types of telescopes used for other purposes. For example, an alignment telescope is a helpful device used by scientists and engineers to make extremely precise calculations and measurements.

While your last instance measuring angles might have occurred during your high school geometry class, measuring angles precisely is an important task when one needs to align machinery precisely or determine angular movement. To do this, engineers will use a device known as an autocollimator which measures angles without actually making contact with an object.




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