Magdeburg hemispheres

A form of Magdeburg hemisphere — Either of a pair of large copper hemispheres, with mating rims, that were used to demonstrate the power of atmospheric pressure. When the rims were sealed with grease and the air was pumped out, the sphere contained a vacuum and could not be pulled apart even by teams of horses.

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Meanings

noun
  1. pluralplural of Magdeburg hemisphere
Cite this entry
APA

Magdeburg hemispheres. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Magdeburg%20hemispheres

MLA

“Magdeburg hemispheres.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Magdeburg%20hemispheres. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Magdeburg hemispheres,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Magdeburg%20hemispheres.

Source: Magdeburg hemispheres on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.