I.B. COHEN, Benjamin Franklin's Science, London, 1990.

1) Describe the "major new theoretical advances" made by Benjamin Franklin.

2) What was the Gentleman's Magazine ?

3) Who was the Abbé Nollet and what was his theory about using metal conductors outside a building? Describe his experiments using the illustration:

4) Why were bells rung during a storm according to Nollet's theory?

5) Why were bell-ringers killed?

6) According to Nollet what is the solution to avoid their deaths?

7) One example of the danger of experiments:

8) What is a lightning-rod?

9) Explain "the invention of Iron Points to prevent the Danger of Thunder has met with all that Opposition from the Superstitions, Affectations of Piety, and Jealousy of New Inventions, that Inoculation to prevent the Danger of the Small Pox, and all other usefull Discoveries, have met with in all Ages of the World."

10) Comment on the quotation from Adam's Diary (December 1758). Which parts of this text do you consider "primary sources" and which parts do you consider "secondary sources"? Explain why?

11) The fashion and the lightning rod: Comment!

12) Can we nowadays predict where lightning is going to strike? How many dead people in France every year through thunder-lightning?