Description
Accurately measuring the depth of the ocean has occupied natural philosophers and navigators since ancient times. Sounding instrument of some sort have been used for well over 2000 years. The oldest sound instrument is a line and lead, which consists of a length of rope attached to a weight. The weight was allowed to drop to the ocean floor, and, as the rope was pulled in, the lengths were called off. During the seventeenth-century, Robert Hooke conducted several experiments to improve measuring depth and invented a new line and lead. Composed of a float, springing wire and weight, the device would be dropped into the water. When it hit the sea floor the springing wire would release the float. The depth was determined by measuring the time elapsed from the release of the instrument to the appearance of the float at the water’s surface. Edward Massy was an instrument-maker who primarily made clocks, watches and chronometers. His invention was a propellor-driven sounding machine, patented in 1802. The rotator registered the descent of the sounding weight. Unfortunately, there were some problems with the Massey sounder that inhibited the device from being widely used: the dialing system proved too complicated for mariners and the device failed in deep waters due to water-pressure.

08/07/2014
Created by: Allison Ksiazkiewicz on 08/07/2014