TPO 25 Vessels used as electric batteries in the past

The reading and the lecture are both about whether vessel, 2200 years old, were used as electric batteries. The reading passage strongly postulates that vessels were not likely used as electric batteries in the past. However, the listening adamantly delineates that vessels were actually used as electric batteries and gives three reasons.

First and foremost, according to the author excerpt, the batteries would might have attached to some electric conductors such as metals wire if vessels were used as batteries. But there was no evidence found that metal wires were placed near the vessels. On the other hand, the speaker explains that vessels were discovered by local people. Since they were not trained, archaeologists were not able to recognize the importance of those materials. This could have been uninterested for them.

Next, the author claims that the copper cylinders used for holding scrolls of sacred texts and not for generating electricity. In contrast, the professor refutes this point by mentioning that there is no proof that the copper cylinders used for scrolls. However, it might be possible that the copper cylinder were designed to preserve scrolls. In other words, ancient inventor found that when iron rods use with liquid vessel, it produces electricity. So, the copper cylinders were originally used for one purpose and adapt for another.

Finally, the article lastly points out that ancient people had no devices that relied on electricity. On the other hand, the lecturer states that there were many uses of batteries. Batteries produce mild shock and give tingling effect when someone touch it. It was easy to see how people could persuade others if they had magical power. Batteries could have used for healing. Modern doctors today use battery to relieve pain, and so ancient doctors used batteries for the same purpose. Therefore, the lecturer says that all arguments of author were unconvincing.