DR. GREGORIO Y. ZARA, D.SC

DR. GREGORIO Y. ZARA, D.SC
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL SCIENTIST,1978
inventor, physicist, engineer, academician, administrator, pilot, linguist, grandfather and more!

He dreamt of becoming a general and had a penchant for reading myths. Instead, he became one of the most outstanding National Scientists of the Philippines.

• a brilliant man who was an administrator, author, academician, linguist, and a prolific inventor
• spoke English, Filipino, French and Spanish fluently with a working knowledge of Japanese, Russian and German
• graduated valedictorian from primary and secondary schooling
• 1926 - Massachusetts Institute of Technology, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, cum laude
• 1927 - University of Michigan, Masters degree in Aeronautical Engineering, summa cum laude
• 1930 - Sorbonne University, graduated with a Doctorate in Physics, Tres Honorable, with a thesis written entirely in French entitled, Etude du Compas Magnetique a Induction et du Perfectionnement de cet Appareil. During which time he discovered a basic Physical Law -- The Law of Kinetic Electrical Resistance" or the Zara Effect
• 1935 - topped Civil Service Examinations for Aeronautical Engineering

• Notable Inventions:

Earth Induction Compass,1929, patented by Belgian Government
Aircraft Engine designed to fly on PLAIN ALCOHOL as fuel, 1952
Semi-automatic Propeller-making Machine, 1952
TV-Telephone (PicturePhone),1955
Thermo-Solar Energy Machine, 1961 -- first in the country, reaches a temperature of 3000F, can melt copper, iron, welding rods
Solar Water Heater (SolarSorber) -- made of copper tubing, heats water to 180F in 7 minutes
Sun Stove
Solar Battery -- first in the country, runs a radio and electric fan
Drinking Glass Vapor Chamber, 1962 -- simplest in the world
Airplane Propeller Design, 1963 -- certified airworthy 1964
first Philippine-made Airplane Propeller -- made of Manggachappui wood, flown by Maj. Henry Meider, USAF
first Technicolor TV-receiver in the Philippines
Microscope with collapsible stage made of local Philippine materials -- magnifies to 1500 diameters
General Marex X-10 -- an electronic robot capable of talking, walking, and obeying commands
first Spectroscope in the Philippines

Filipino scientist Gregorio Y. Zara (D.Sc. Physics) invented, made improvements to, or discovered the following:

• invented the two-way television telephone or videophone (1955) patented as a "photo phone signal separator network"
• discovered the physical law of electrical kinetic resistance called the Zara effect (around 1930)
• invented an airplane engine that ran on plain alcohol as fuel (1952)
• improved methods of producing solar energy including creating new designs for a solar water heater (SolarSorber), a sun stove, and a solar battery (1960s)
• invented a propeller-cutting machine (1952)
• designed a microscope with a collapsible stage
• helped design the robot Marex X-10

Gregorio Zara's list of accomplishments also includes the following awards:

• Presidential Diploma of Merit
• Distinguished Service Medal (1959) for his pioneering works and achievements in solar energy research, aeronautics and television.
• Presidential Gold Medal and Diploma of Honor for Science and Research (1966)
• Cultural Heritage Award for Science Education and Aero Engineering (1966)

Gregorio Zara born in Lipa City, Batangas, is one of the best known scientist from the Philippines. In 1926, Gregorio Zara graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. In 1927, he received his Masters degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Michigan. In 1930, he graduated with a Doctorate of Physics from Sorbonne University. On September 30, 1954 Gregorio Zara's alcohol-fueled airplane engine was successfully tested and flown at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The Law of Kinetic Electrical Resistance or Zara Effect

This states that "all contacts, turning or sliding, between metals, or between carbon and metals, or between metals and mercury, or between conductors, produce a resistance to the passage of electric current which may be kinetic and/or permanent electrical resistance. This is observed at currents of very low amperage. Kinetic electrical resistance is the resistance to the passage of electric current when contacts are in motion. Permanent electrical resistance manifests itself when contacts are at rest."