Experiment with an Air Pump

"An Experiment with an Air Pump" by Robert Boyle explores the nature of air and vacuum. Boyle uses a sophisticated pump to remove air from a sealed glass vessel, demonstrating that a vacuum can exist—meaning space devoid of air. The experiment shows that air supports combustion and respiration, and without it, flames go out and animals can't breathe. Boyle's work challenged the idea that a vacuum was impossible, advancing understanding of air's properties and laying groundwork for modern physics and chemistry. The experiment emphasizes the importance of controlled conditions to study natural phenomena.