Page 1 Africans and their Descendants Science and Innovation Renee Sutherland February 10, 2015.

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Africans and their Descendants Science and Innovation

Renee SutherlandFebruary 10, 2015

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Pythagorean Theorm

• Coined by Pythagorus (570 – 495 BC)• The pyramids which were built between 2589 and 2504

BC• Pythagorus studied in Kemet for 22 years and essentially

learned this theorem from the Egyptians and went on to publish it as his own

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The Papyrus of Moscow

• An example of one of the ancient texts found in Egypt. Hyroglyphics were used for 3,500 years beginning at 3300 or 3200 BC. An example on this papyrus shows a complex math problem to calculate the area of a sphere.

Page 4Original text

Translation

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The Cubit

• A form of measurement used as far back as 1600 BC. Ancient equivalent to a ruler that was kept in an isothermal room (to prevent the cubit from shrinking or expanding due to temperature).

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Communication

• Nubians could speak to each other over distances of 2 miles

• Standing about 10 feet above the surface of the Nile River, a person could cup his hands and talk into the water at a 45 degree angle to a person on the other bank

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Judy W. Reed

• The first known black women to receive a patent in America in 1884. Signed her name with an X

• She created an improved design to existing dough kneaders.

• Allowed the dough to mix evenly as it progressed through intermeshed rollers carved with corrugated slats that would act as kneaders. It then passed into a covered receptacle to protect the dough from dust

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Sarah E. Goode

• Owned a furniture store• Was inspired when her customers

complained of limited living space with not enough room for a full sized bed

• Inventor of the folding bed that would fit into a cabinet

• The cabinet also served as a roll top desk and stationary shelf

• Received patent in 1885

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Lewis Latimer

• Invented a toilet system for railroad cars in 1873• Contributed to the patent of the telephone while

working with Alexander Graham Bell

• In 1879, he worked at the U.S. Electric Lighting Company, owned by Hiram Maxim, rival to Thomas Edison

• In 1881, received a patent for improving the process of creating carbon filaments, which allows Maxim bulbs to last longer than Edison’s

• In 1884, he then worked for Edison, as the only African American member of the Edison Pioneers

• In 1890 he published Incandescent Electric Lighting, a technical engineering book which became the guide for lighting engineers

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Granville T. Woods

• Known as the Black Edison with over 45 patents

• Most known for his invention of the traffic light

• Invented a device that would let train engineers know close his train was to others, cutting down on accidents

• Created a Conduit system used for wireless streetcar transit operation, as well as 15 new technologies for electric railways

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Jan Matzeliger

• Born in Dutch Guiana (present day Suriname) in South America

• Moved to the US and took night classes to learn the language so he could study physics and engineering

• Created a machine that could replicate the movements of a human to last (sew) the uppers of shoes to the already machine prepped sole.

• A human laster could do 50 shoes per day, Matzeliger’s machine could do 700.

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Charles Drew

• In 1943, selected as the first African American Surgeon to serve as an examiner for the American Board of Surgery

• Created a method for separating plasma (the liquid part) from the red blood cells, freezing them separately allowing the blood to be stored for up to a week, thereby creating the first Blood Bank.

• His discovery saved countless lives in WWII

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Patricia Booth

• Graduated from Howard University School of Medicine in 1968

• In 1988, she was awarded a patent for Cataract Laserphaco Probe. This used a laser to painlessly vaporize cataracts from patients’ eyes, replacing the more common drill like procedure.

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Ancient African Inventions

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Some 19th Century Inventions

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Some 20th Century Inventions