- Robert Norman
Robert Norman was a
16th century English mariner,compass builder, andhydrographer .Work
Robert Norman is noted for "The Newe Attractive", a pamphlet published in
1581 [Published in London by Ballard. See cite book | last = Harré | first = R. | title = Great Scientific Experiments | publisher = Phaidon (Oxford) | year = 1981 | pages = 49 – 56 | isbn = 0-7148-2096-2] describing thelodestone (magnet ) and practical aspects of navigation. More importantly, it included Norman's discovery ofmagnetic dip , the incline at an angle from the horizon by a compass needle. This effect is caused by the Earth'smagnetic field not running parallel to the planet's surface. Norman demonstrated magnetic dip by creating a compass needle that pivoted on a horizontal axis. The needle tilted at a steep angle relative to thehorizon line.Magnetic inclination and local variations were known before Robert Norman, but his pamphlet had a greater influence than the earlier work.
Norman crater on the
Moon was named in his honour.Writings
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See also
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William Gilbert References
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