Benjamin Franklin's experiment with flying a kite in a thunderstorm and his account of it influenced modern scientists in their understanding of electricity and the development of related technologies.
Physics: The Influence of Priestley's Account on Modern Scientists
Benjamin Franklin's experiment with flying a kite in a thunderstorm demonstrated a connection between lightning and static electricity. This experiment showed that sparks drawn from a key on a kite string during an electrical storm were similar to sparks produced by static electricity. Franklin's work, along with the experiments of other scientists like Luigi Galvani and Alessandro Volta, contributed to the understanding of electricity and the development of technologies like lightning rods and batteries.