From Corsica to the Fourth Rome

"What on earth is this...? Lawrence still has this ability?!"

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, who was sitting behind the king, couldn't help but open his mouth wide, looking at the podium that looked like daylight, and he didn't come back to his senses for a long time.

When Lawrence took out the glass covers, Prince Louis immediately recognized them as small parts made by himself a few days ago.

As the manufacturer, the Crown Prince knew very well that there was nothing special about those glass covers. They were nothing more than a sealed glass ball that had taken away the air, with a carbonized bamboo wire inserted in the middle.

"Oh my god, how did Lawrence make it shine so brightly?"

Crown Prince Louis stared blankly at his friend, astonished and speechless.

In the front row of the auditorium, the more than 20 judges could not sit still.

As the saying goes, laymen only watch the excitement, while experts watch the door. These masters of natural philosophy also searched various existing theories in their minds, and then whispered to each other solemnly:

"Is this an oil lamp using some special fuel? How can it be so bright?!"

"It doesn't look like it. I've just been watching Academician Lavoisier's movements carefully. He didn't light those glass balls with fire at all."

"Perhaps there are some chemicals coated in the glass ball? White phosphorus can also emit a similar bright light when burning."

"Well, that's what a lot of circus tricks are like."

"It doesn't look right. This light is much more stable than burning white phosphorus. Didn't you notice? It has been shining for more than a minute, but there is still no change in the brightness of those glass balls."

"Yes, and those glass balls are completely sealed, which means that the air inside is very limited, and it is impossible to emit such strong light by burning."

"Isn't it a combustion reaction? This, how is this possible? Even the sun above our heads relies on endless combustion to emit sunlight. What are these glass balls?!"

For a time, the review committee members also had different opinions, and no one could provide a reasonable explanation for the scene in front of them.

Academician d'Alembert, the most prestigious member of the committee, looked at the podium without saying a word. Different from the focus of others, he was not looking at those glass balls like small suns, but staring closely at those A tower-like pile of metal:

"What are these metal tower-like things? Electricity and magnetism. Does this have anything to do with electromagnetism?"

Academician d'Alembert's face showed unprecedented solemnity. Even with his profound knowledge, he could not explain how these glass balls lit up, and why those glass balls bloomed like this as soon as they were connected to the metal pile. Intense light.

On the podium, Lawrence's eyes swept across the shocked faces, and he smiled as expected.

The glass covers he asked Prince Louis to build were actually just a few simple incandescent light bulbs.

The manufacture of these light bulbs is not difficult, whether it is high-strength heat-resistant glass or vacuuming technology, these processes were already very mature at the end of the 18th century.

As for the most important filament, although Lawrence could not find the most suitable tungsten filament to use, using carbonized bamboo filament was enough to keep these light bulbs on for dozens of hours. After all, before Edison improved the light bulb, carbon filament light bulbs were the The most mature design on the market.

The ones used to power these light bulbs are the tower-like metal stacks on the table.

These stacks are not too advanced works. Historically, Italian physicist Volta invented the primary battery in 1800 and designed a more stable and higher-voltage Volt stack based on the principle of the primary battery.

Napoleon once watched Volta perform experimental demonstrations using these electric piles, and was so shocked that he excitedly rewarded Volta with a medal and tens of thousands of francs to fund his continued electrical research.

The stacks made by Lawrence also adopted Volt's design.

Although this design is still very primitive compared with later generations of batteries, it is more than enough to cope with this academic defense.

Academician Lavoisier on the side carefully hung these light bulbs on the four corners of the long table. Naturally, he could have a panoramic view of the expressions on the faces of the dignitaries in the audience.

For the young Academician Lavoisier, he had never imagined that one day he would be able to make those unattainable big shots look so surprised on such an occasion. Even as an assistant, Lavoisier felt that this was It will be the most unforgettable moment in his life.

"cough"

Lawrence took a step forward and patted his hands, which brought the audience who were still staring blankly at the incandescent light bulbs back to their senses:

"Please be quiet for a moment. The experimental demonstration hasn't started yet."

Upon hearing this, the thousands of spectators, including the more than 20 judges, became even more unable to sit still.

These glass balls that look like magic and witchcraft are not even part of the experimental demonstration?

How shocking would the actual demo content be? !

This was the inner thought of the vast majority of the audience at this moment. They had already forgotten about the bet between Lawrence and Madame Du Barry, and had forgotten that they were actually here for the outcome of the bet. They all sat up straight and looked at the bet. All attention was focused on His Excellency Bonaparte, who was bathed in brilliant white light.

Academician d'Alembert couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth. He and the review committee members had not even studied those magical glass balls clearly. This young man actually said that his experiment had not started at all.

"Please be quiet." Academician d'Alembert first asked the audience to keep quiet, and then looked at Lawrence with a complicated expression. His eyes were no longer as calm and calm as they were at the beginning:

"Your Excellency Bonaparte, you can start your experimental demonstration; the question we just asked you is how to prove that there is indeed a connection between electricity and magnetism. We hope that your experiment can support your point of view."

"I will, M. d'Alembert."

Soon, as people focused their attention on Lawrence again, Academician Lavoisier, his assistant, also ran into the preparation room at the back of the auditorium with understanding.

Amid everyone's expectations, Academician Lavoisier walked out holding a heavy armor stand.

Hanging on the armor stand was a pair of iron breastplates, which were the standard equipment of the French cuirassiers. Many noble spectators present who had military careers were very familiar with this breastplate.

Lavoisier briefly showed the audience this pair of cavalry breastplates. It is a well-made, well-maintained and undamaged breastplate. It is also coated with anti-rust maintenance oil. It looks like it has just been The same as its maker took it from the anvil.

"Huh? What is this kid doing with a breastplate here?"

Lieutenant General Jacques Philippe in the crowd looked at Lawrence on the stage with confusion. He did not think that experiments related to electromagnetism could use a pair of cavalry breastplates.

There were many spectators who had the same idea as Lieutenant General Philippe. They all stared at Academician Lavoisier with great confusion, watching him move the armor stand to one side of the long table with difficulty, and continued to adjust the chest. The position of A placement.

While Lavoisier was adjusting the breastplate, Lawrence picked up a long stick-like object on the experimental table, walked down from the podium, handed it to Academician d'Alembert, and said:

"This is the experimental instrument I am about to use. You can check it in advance."

Academician d'Alembert quickly took over the long stick-like instrument, and the rest of the judges, including the audience in the front row, also came over curiously, wanting to see what kind of magical object this was.

Those judges who were sure that Lawrence had used some kind of magic trick were staring at the long stick closely, trying to see if there was any manipulation done on it.

It was an ordinary hollow copper pipe, about four feet long. The only special thing was that the copper pipe was covered with densely packed lacquered silver wires, probably hundreds or thousands of turns.

"This should be a long tube of pure copper. Are these wires silver wires? It seems to be painted with something like paint, nothing special."

Academician d'Alembert looked at the coil tube in his hand and discussed with several committee members beside him doubtfully.

The other committee members also took over the coil tube and observed it carefully, and came to the same conclusion as Academician d'Alembert:

There is nothing special about this long coiled tube. It is just a hollow copper tube wrapped with silver wire. These materials are easily available on the market.

“What’s really special about these things put together?”

Academician d'Alembert took one last look at the coil tube, but still found no abnormalities.

Finally, after more than twenty reviewers unanimously agreed that this was an ordinary copper tube wound with silver wire, Academician d'Alembert handed the coil tube back to Lawrence with great confusion.

At this time, not only the judges, but also the audience looked confused.

A hollow copper tube wound with silver wire and a pair of cavalry breastplates. Is Mr. Bonaparte going to use these things to prove the relationship between electricity and magnetism? There wasn't even a magnet on his lab table.

Madame Du Barry, who was on the stage, pretended to be calm and snorted coldly, turned to His Majesty the King and said softly and sarcastically:

"Your Majesty, I don't think Mr. Bonaparte wants to perform a big stick beating armor, right? I'm enough to see such a performance in the circus, but I don't want to see it in the Louvre again."

However, Louis XV, who had always doted on Madame Du Barry, seemed not to hear at this moment, staring directly at Lawrence below.

The king was obviously fascinated, completely immersed in this atmosphere of tense anticipation.

Madame Du Barry was stunned for a moment, looked at Louis XV with a disappointed expression, and very wisely said nothing.

"So, please allow me to start the demonstration."

Lawrence took the coil tube and walked back to the experimental table under everyone's nervous gaze.

He placed the coil tube on the table and pointed it accurately at the cavalry breastplate at the other end.

Then, Lawrence connected the wires under several electric piles two by two, so that the entire series became a more powerful electric pile.

Except for Academician Lavoisier, no one knew what kind of trick this young man wanted to perform, but everyone was looking forward to every move of this young man.

Lawrence picked up a small steel ball on the table and gently placed it on one end of the coil tube.

Thousands of spectators couldn't help but hold their breath and concentrate, and the only sound in the entire auditorium could be heard was people's breathing.

Academician d'Alembert and the audience in the front row stared intently at the steel ball Lawrence placed at the mouth of the pipe, completely unaware of what magical uses this ordinary copper pipe could have.

Lawrence stabilized the steel ball, then picked up the two silver wires from under the stack and connected them directly to the contacts of the coil tube.

boom!

There was a loud bang.

At this moment, no one realized what happened.

Academician d'Alembert was startled, because the moment Lawrence connected the silver wire to the coil, the steel ball he was staring at disappeared out of thin air.

There was silence in the huge domed auditorium. Only the loud noise that suddenly sounded just now was still sending out echoes, lingering in people's ears.

what happens? ! What is that sound? !

This is the question on the minds of all viewers and judges at this moment.

At this moment, an exclamation from above suddenly broke the silence:

"Jesus! Look at that breastplate! I can't believe it!"

People subconsciously raised their heads, and were extremely shocked to find that the person who uttered this exclamation was actually His Majesty King Louis XV on the marble stand.

I saw Louis XV jumping up from his seat, leaning most of his body out of the guardrail of the stands, pointing his finger directly at the breastplate below and exclaiming.

Only then did the audience react and quickly turned to look at the cavalry breastplate on the side.

Academician Lavoisier also thoughtfully stepped forward, took off the cavalry breastplate and held it up in his hand so that everyone could clearly see what the breastplate looked like.

Right in the middle of this fine cavalry breastplate, a fist-sized dent appeared at some point, as if it had been struck with a heavy hammer by a heavyweight.

And those spectators who were close enough could clearly see that there was a bullet hole completely penetrated in the center of the depression, the size of which was almost the same as the marble Lawrence had just placed on the other side of the copper pipe.

After a period of dizzy thinking, the audience finally realized that the bullet holes and dents on the breastplate were caused by the steel ball that Lawrence gently put down.

Lieutenant General Jacques Philippe opened his mouth in shock and did not close it for a long time.

As a general who has experienced hundreds of battles, he knows very well that although the cavalry breastplate of this era can only be said to be a thin layer of iron compared to the medieval knight's armor, if you want to penetrate it, you can't. The only possibility was to shoot at close range with a musket.

However, what is before him now?

A toy-like hollow copper pipe? There were no guns, no gunpowder, and no explosions. Just like that, a small steel ball penetrated a hard cavalry breastplate?

Lieutenant General Philip leaned on his seat with a dull gaze, feeling that he must be in an extremely real dream:

"My dear little Elvie, pinch me now, I don't want to dream anymore."

On the other hand, Miss Elvy stared at Lawrence on the stage with a smile and joy, completely ignoring her uncle's request.

At the review table, the brains of more than 20 committee members went blank almost simultaneously. Even top scholars like them were completely unable to explain what happened.

From their perspective, Lawrence just placed a steel ball on one end of the copper pipe, and then touched the copper pipe with two silver wires. The cavalry breastplate was instantly penetrated by the projectile.

If when the incandescent light bulb was lit just now, some committee members still insisted that Lawrence was using certain chemical reactions to deceive the eyes, then at this moment, no committee member can provide even a conjectural explanation for what they saw. .

"Wait! I remembered!"

Academician d'Alembert was the first to wake up from the shock.

He suddenly raised his head and looked at the hollow copper tube covered with coils. He suddenly felt that it seemed familiar. Then he picked up the academic paper submitted by Lawrence on the table and turned it over quickly like a maniac.

The rest of the committee members couldn't help but look at Academician d'Alembert in surprise. In their memories, this unsmiling, dignified and serious scholar had never been so out of his mind.

"By the way, this is it!"

Academician d'Alembert turned to a section of the paper and read it eagerly:

"An energized wire will generate a magnetic field. If the wire is wound up to make a coil, the magnetic field can be superimposed to form a powerful electromagnet. The direction of the magnetic field of the electromagnet can be determined using the right-hand rule. Could it be that that was just a Electromagnet!"

Academician d'Alembert raised his head in confusion, looked at the instruments on Lawrence's desk, then lowered his head and closed the paper, and glanced at the title - "On Electricity and Magnetism"

"In other words, everything stated in this paper is true?!"