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Whipple Museum of the History of Science

Whipple Museum of the History of Science

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  • Whipple Highlights Tours
  • Bridging Binaries Tours: LGBTQ+ History of Science
  • Black History of Science Tours
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Exhibitions and Displays

  • Exhibitions and Displays overview
  • Physics and Glass
  • +FRANKLIN: Rosalind Franklin and DNA
  • Robert S. Whipple and the Founding of the Whipple Museum
  • Case Studies

About Us

  • About Us overview
  • Foundations of the Museum
  • History of the Building
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Learning

  • Learning overview
  • Educational Sessions

Special Collections

  • Special Collections overview
  • Search the Collections Database

Image Requests

  • Image Requests overview
  • Image Reproduction
  • Ordering and payment
  • Terms and Conditions

Explore

  • Explore overview

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
  • Home
  • Visit us

    Visit us

    Visit us overview
    • Access Information
    • Group visits
  • What's on

    What's on

    What's on overview
    • Events
    • News
    • Newsletter
    • Exhibitions and Displays
  • 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
    • Astronomy and Empire
    • Calculating Devices
    • Frogs
    • Globes
    • Meteorology
    • Microscopes
    • Models
    • Home
    • Visit us
    • What's on
    • About Us
    • Learning
    • Special Collections
    • Explore

Explore

  • Explore overview
  • Acoustics
  • Astronomy
  • Astronomy and Empire
  • Calculating Devices
  • Frogs
  • Globes
  • Meteorology
  • Microscopes
  • Models

Explore Whipple Collections

This section includes in-depth articles and images that tell you more about some of our collections. Follow the links below to find out more.

Whipple Museum of the History of Science

Contact Information

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

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