Phosphor coating and Babbage’s Analytical Engine: what they have in common

1. Step 1. Phosphor coating — is part of — Fluorescent lamp. A coating that glows under UV.
2. Step 2. Fluorescent lamp — is made of — Mercury. Mercury.
3. Step 3. Mercury — is part of — Hydrometer. Old hydrometers used mercury or lead shot as the weight to keep them upright.
4. Step 4. Hydrometer — works like — Cream separator. Both rely on density: a separator removes the lighter cream, a hydrometer checks by density whether milk has been watered down.
5. Step 5. Cream separator — has part — Gear. A gear train spins up the bowl.
6. Step 6. Gear — is part of — Babbage’s Analytical Engine. Gears performed the calculations.

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