The Fluid Mechanics Research of Laura Bassi (1711-1778)

The Italian physicist Laura Bassi (1711-1778) was the first female physics professor in modern Europe (appointed Reader in Philosophy, 1732; then chair of experimental physics, 1776; both at the University of Bologna; and preceptor for experimental physics, 1766, at the Collegio Montalto). Few English language scholars have focused on her work in fluid mechanics, for which this presentation provides a summary. Of her 31 annual lectures to the Benedettini Academy (1746-1777), ten relate to hydraulics (sadly all are presumed lost). She was only able to publish four articles in the university's journal: two full papers and two summaries. One of each relates to the physics of fluids. The first is a theoretical paper (1757) focusing on the discharge of water from a vessel, following in the tradition of Torricelli, Guglielmini, and Zendrini. Bassi explicitly stated the value of this work for engineers, and provided tables for their use. The second, a summary published (1791) over a decade after her death, describes experiments on the formation of bubbles in depressurized glass capillary vessels filled with two liquid layers (e.g., water and olive oil). I end with the conjecture that Bassi may be the first known female to have credited, published research in fluid mechanics in modern Europe.