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Norman on magnet dip, 1581
Norman on magnet dip. Page from 'De Magnete' (On the Magnet, 1600) by English physicist William Gilbert (1544-1603). This diagram shows the experiment by Robert Norman (published in 1581 in 'The Newe Attractive') showing the dip in the Earth's magnetic field, which varies with latitude, and can therefore be used to determine position. The picture shows a glass goblet with a magnetised iron wire passing through a cork, which is partially submerged in water. 'De Magnete' reported Gilbert's studies of magnetism and electricity. He theorised that the two forces were closely related. He also considered the Earth to be a spherical magnet. This first edition of 'De Magnete' consisted of 115 chapters in six books and 246 pages. This is page 203, chapter 9, book 5.
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