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Whipple Museum of the History of Science

Whipple Museum of the History of Science

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Explore

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Acoustics

  • Acoustics overview
  • Historical Notes: a Brief Chronicle of the Tuning Fork
  • Ernst Chladni: Physicist, Musician and Musical Instrument Maker
  • Lissajous Tuning Forks: the Standardisation of Musical Sound
  • Monochord
  • Parabolic Sound Mirrors
  • The Siren
  • Stroh's Automatic Phonograph
  • Wheatstone's Symphonium

Herman von Helmholtz

  • Herman von Helmholtz overview
  • Helmholtz Resonators: Tools for the Analysis of Sound
  • Helmholtz's Apparatus for the Synthesis of Sound

Rudolph Koenig: the Pursuit of Acoustic Perfection

  • Rudolph Koenig: the Pursuit of Acoustic Perfection overview
  • Koenig's Apparatus for the Analysis of Sound
  • Trombone de Koenig

Astronomy

  • Astronomy overview
  • Astronomical Compendia
  • Two Telescopes
  • The 'Grand' Orrery
  • A Projecting Planetarium
  • Armillary Spheres and Teaching Astronomy
  • The King's Astronomer
  • A Ship-Shaped Sundial
  • Short's Telescope
  • Glass Monograph

A Medieval Astrolabe

  • A Medieval Astrolabe overview
  • The Parts of an Astrolabe

The 'Incomparable' Mr. Sutton

  • The 'Incomparable' Mr. Sutton overview
  • The Sutton-Type Quadrant

Art and Astronomy: Cornelius Varley

  • Art and Astronomy: Cornelius Varley overview
  • The Graphic Telescope and Varley's Artwork

Maps of the Heavens

  • Maps of the Heavens overview
  • Images of Stereographic Projections
  • The Gunter Quadrant and Practical Knowledge

Astronomy and Empire

  • Astronomy and Empire overview
  • The Stolen Quadrant
  • Astronomy at Sea
  • Navigational Arts
  • Encounter and Exchange
  • Famine and Astronomy
  • Instrument Breakage and Repair
  • Charles Piazzi Smyth and His Imperial Measures

Science in the Field

  • Science in the Field overview
  • Survey Instruments in India

The Sun Worshippers

  • The Sun Worshippers overview
  • Eclipse Teamwork
  • Forgotten Instruments from an Eclipse Expedition

Local knowledge

  • Local knowledge overview
  • Copycat sundials?
  • Pundits and The Great Game

Calculating Devices

  • Calculating Devices overview
  • A Brief History of Calculating Devices
  • Tables
  • The Sector
  • John Napier's Calculating Tools
  • Mechanical Calculation
  • Charles Babbage's Difference Engine
  • Pocket Calculating Devices
  • The EDSAC and Computing in Cambridge

Slide Rules

  • Slide Rules overview
  • Specialist Slide Rules
  • A Universal Slide Rule?

Handheld Electronic Calculators

  • Handheld Electronic Calculators overview
  • Pocket Programming
  • The Aesthetics of Calculation

Frogs

  • Frogs overview
  • Why Frogs?
  • Frogs in the Classroom
  • Frogs and Animal Electricity
  • Frogs and Physiological Instruments in 20th Century Cambridge
  • Frogs in the Foster Collection

Frog-plates

  • Frog-plates overview
  • Projecting the Wonder of Life
  • Seeing Life Through the Microscope

Ziegler's Wax Models

  • Ziegler's Wax Models overview
  • Frog Models, Artisans, and Academic Controversy
  • Techniques of Observing and Modelling

Globes

  • Globes overview
  • A Brief History of Globes
  • An Immobile Globe
  • Dissectable Paper Globes
  • A Jigsaw Puzzle Globe
  • Japanese Star Globe
  • Pocket-sized Globes
  • A Celebration of Navigation
  • A Geographical Lottery Game
  • An Early Italian Globe?
  • Identifying Stars at Sea
  • Portable 'Umbrella' Globe
  • A Spanish 'Encyglobedia'

Meteorology

  • Meteorology overview
  • What is Meteorology?
  • Measuring Air Humidity
  • Weather Forecasting
  • Cloud Studies
  • Mapping Weather and Modern Meteorology

Barometers

  • Barometers overview
  • Types of Barometer
  • Design Concerns and Solutions

Early Thermometers and Temperature Scales

  • Early Thermometers and Temperature Scales overview
  • Thermometer Designs

Microscopes

  • Microscopes overview
  • A Brief History of the Microscope
  • Parts of the Microscope
  • Charles Darwin's Microscopes
  • Fish and Frogs
  • Public Shows
  • Faraday's Slide
  • Measuring the Microscopic
  • The Problems with Lenses
  • Amici & Robinson
  • Cambridge Botanists
  • Microphotographs
  • Elcock: Scientist or Craftsman?

Three Microscope Makers

  • Three Microscope Makers overview
  • John Cuff and the 'New-Constructed' Microscope
  • George Lindsay's Royal Microscope
  • Benjamin Martin and Microscope Compendia

A Dutch Pioneer

  • A Dutch Pioneer overview
  • Leeuwenhoek Replicas
  • Mayall's Microscope Reproductions

Models

  • Models overview
  • A Japanese Earthquake Model
  • Geological Models
  • Geometric Models
  • Knitted Interpenetrating Surfaces
  • Glass Models of Fungi

Modelling Chemistry

  • Modelling Chemistry overview
  • Types of Molecular Models

Dr. Auzoux's Models

  • Dr. Auzoux's Models overview
  • Dr. Auzoux
  • Inside Auzoux's Models
  • Human Models
  • Animal Models
  • Plant Models
  • Foetus Models

Wave Machines

  • Wave Machines overview
  • Wave Theory
  • Thomas Young's Wave Experiments
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  • What's on

    What's on

    What's on overview
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  • About Us

    About Us

    About Us overview
    • Foundations of the Museum
    • History of the Building
    • Supporting Teaching and Research
    • Get Involved
    • Supporting the Museum
    • Shop
    • Contact us
    • Annual Report
  • Learning

    Learning

    Learning overview
    • Educational Sessions
  • Special Collections

    Special Collections

    Special Collections overview
    • Image Requests
    • Search the Collections Database
  • Explore

    Explore

    Explore overview
    • Acoustics
    • Astronomy
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    • Frogs
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    • Meteorology
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Half term activities: Lighting the Darkness

This event has already happened

Wednesday 21 February 2024 2pm to 3pm

Whipple Museum of the history of science

About

Find out more at https://www.museums.cam.ac.uk/events/lighting-darkness-0

Whipple Museum of the History of Science

Contact Information

Free School Lane CB2 3RH
enquiries@whipplemuseum.cam.ac.uk
01223 330906

University of Cambridge

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