Benjamin Franklin Invention: Odometer By Ben Stutzman

The Odometer The Odometer is a device used to measure how far a car, carriage, or any other vehicle has travelled. It can be electronic or mechanical, or both. Most modern cars also have a trip meter with their Odometer. It measures how far a vehicle has gone on a single trip, and can be reset.

The History of the Odometer Archimedes of Syracuse may have invented the Odometer. The first use of an odometer might have been by Pliny and Strabo, who have recorded the distances of the journeys of Alexander The Great. Leonardo da Vinci tried to build it, using a description of the Odometer of Vitruvius.

Benjamin Franklin’s Odometer Benjamin Franklin made up his own version of the odometer. It was a simple odometer for trips in his carriage, because he wanted to know how far and fast he was going. He also wanted to analyze the best routes to deliver mail, as the Postmaster General in In 1763, he used an odometer on a 5 month carriage tour, inspecting post offices.

The distance travelled was recorded with a set of gears attached to the wheel of a carriage, and three circles with numbers printed on them. The wheel made the gears spin, which spun the circles, and the numbers would show the distance. When the odometer was used with a carriage wheel with a circumference of 13.2 feet, a mile equaled 400 turns of the wheel. Description of the Odometer

Three most important details learned: 1.Ben did not invent the odometer, he only made up a new version. 2.Ben made his odometer to aid him in delivering mail. 3.Ben’s odometer was very accurate, and a clever design. FUN FACTS Ben was a practical inventor. He invented many things that were designed to help with daily activities. Ben didn’t patent his inventions, because he believed that everyone should have the right to use them.

1.Wikipedia.org 2.About.com 3.BenFranklin300.org 4.Famouspeoplebiographyguide.com Pictures: Benfranklin300.org Nndb.com Famouspeoplebiographyguide.com Bibliography