The electromagnetic experiments of the Utrecht physicist Gerrit Moll (1785–1838)

Summary

The Utrecht professor of physics Gerrit Moll (1785–1838), well-known for his defence of British science against Charles Babbage's Reflections on the Decline of Science in England (1830), did—in co-operation with members of the Natuurkundig Gezelschap (Physical Society) at Utrecht—important work on the reception in The Netherlands of the new electromagnetic and electrodynamic discoveries (1820–1822). He also carried out fundamental research into the lifting power of electromagnets, which he had seen during his visit to London in 1828. In 1830, Moll published his experiments with strong electromagnets having maximum lifting powers of 38 kilograms. With the results of similar experiments performed in the United States by Joseph Henry (1797–1878) and Philip ten Eyck (1802–1892) in mind, Moll continued his experiments with stronger electromagnets (1831). Furthermore; he investigated the ability of very small galvanic batteries to develop a perceptible magnetism in a great horseshoe (1831–1833). A practical physicist, Moll was hardly interested in theoretical explanations. In The Netherlands his experiments aroused interest in the practical applications of electro- magnetic force. In the present paper, Moll's contributions to the science of electromagnetism and electrodynamics are discussed.