Science trivia question?

Question

In 1775 Benjamin Franklin completed a scientific study which began in 1769 when he was deputy postmaster of the British Colonies and found that it took ships two weeks longer to bring mail from England than was required in the opposite direction. What was the reason for this difference in travel time?

choices:

a)The wind

b)The weight of the ships without the mail

c)The Gulf Stream

Answer 1

The Gulf Stream.

Answer 2

As deputy postmaster, Franklin became interested in the North Atlantic Ocean circulation patterns which carried mail ships. Franklin worked with Timothy Folger, his cousin and experienced Nantucket whaler captain, and other experienced ship captains, learning enough to chart the Gulf Stream, giving it the name by which it's still known today. It took many years for British sea captains to follow Franklin's advice on navigating the current, but once they did, they were able to gain two weeks in sailing time.

C for  four hundred dollars

Answer 3

c

Answer 4

Gulf Stream.  

Franklin used a chip log tied to a rope on his crossings to and from Great Britain...probably because of boredom.  He was the first to do this on such a long voyage.   He concluded that there were currents on both legs of the journey that moved at different speeds.  It was named the Gulf Stream since it originated in the Gulf of Mexico.