What was the ancient Chinese seismometer of Zhang Heng?
Quick Answer
Zhang Heng’s seismometer was an early earthquake-detecting device invented in China in 132 CE. It reportedly indicated the direction of distant earthquakes.
The Full Story
Zhang Heng, a scientist and engineer of the Han dynasty, is credited with creating one of the earliest known seismometers. Historical sources describe a large bronze vessel with dragon heads and frogs that would release a ball when an earthquake was detected. The exact working mechanism is debated because no original device survives, but the invention is famous for showing early Chinese interest in geophysics. It was reported in 132 CE during the Eastern Han period.
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