Puzzles - Magdeburg Hemispheres experiment

🐴 Magdeburg Hemispheres: A Powerful Demonstration of Air Pressure

🔬 The Experiment

In 1654, Otto von Guericke, a German scientist and mayor of Magdeburg, performed an incredible experiment to show the power of atmospheric pressure.

He joined two metal hemispheres together and pumped the air out from the inside, creating a vacuum. Then, two teams of eight strong horses were made to pull the hemispheres apart.

Despite their strength, the horses could not separate the hemispheres. Why? Because the air pressure from outside was so strong that it held the hemispheres tightly together!

This experiment showed that air — though invisible — has weight and exerts pressure from all directions.

🧠 Quiz: Can You Answer These?

1. Why couldn't the horses pull the hemispheres apart?

Air pressure from outside was too strong Horses were weak

✔ Correct! The external air pressure was holding the hemispheres together.

2. What was removed from inside the hemispheres?

Air Water

✔ Correct! Air was removed to create a vacuum.

3. What happens to the pressure inside after removing air?

It becomes very low or zero It increases

✔ Correct! Removing air reduces internal pressure to near zero.

4. Who performed this experiment?

Otto von Guericke Galileo

✔ Otto von Guericke did this in 1654 in Germany.

5. What does this experiment prove?

Air exerts pressure in all directions Vacuum has weight

✔ Correct! It proves that atmospheric pressure is real and powerful.