The Behind-the-Scenes Heroes of Innovation

The first mass produced car in the United States was the Model T Ford, invented by Henry Ford. Essence of the invention? Design of a frame whose axles and wheels could rotate as fast as demanded by the energy produced by the car’s engine, energy produced at rate of E=0.5mv².

The Behind-the-Scenes hero?

Sir Isaac Newton, the scientist who discovered that every engine, which ever can be made to power machines on land produces energy at rate of E=0.5mv². Absent discovery of constancy of E=0.5mv², none of cars, or trains, or tractors (mass production of food, such that 5% of the population of the USA produces enough food for the remainder 95%) would be feasible.

Absent the tractor, which is facilitated by theoretical work of Sir Isaac Newton, it would take about 60% of a population for agriculture to produce enough food for entirety of a country.

The Wilbur Brothers invented the airplane, a machine initially snidely regarded as no more than a metal contraption that could fly — a machine no more than the non-pragmatic fancy of two eccentric brothers. Many years later, most of mankind is grateful that the Wilbur brothers were eccentric enough to invent the…