Skip to main content
simple calorimeter
simple calorimeter

simple calorimeter

Date1850-1900
Inventory Number1997-1-1142
ClassificationCalorimeter
Subject
    Cultural Region
      Dimensions27 × 16.3 × 14.3 cm (10 5/8 × 6 7/16 × 5 5/8 in.)
      Material
        Accessoriescalorimeter; stand; lid
        DescriptionThis object has three parts: the stand, the cup and the lid.

        The stand is made up of a hollow metal circle. At three equally spaced points around the circle, there are small half-circle protrusions, under which are connected three long thin metal rods that function as tall legs. The legs have no feet.

        The cup's shape brings to mind an empty half of a capsule; the bottom is rounded.
        It has a small lip around its rim. The cup is fitted so as to plug into the stand's hollow metal circle at approximately two-thirds of the way up its body; in this configuration, the cup's bottom remains high off of the ground. The cup, which is made of thick metal, seems to have two walls. The hollow space between these walls is only accessible through a small hollow cylinder perched atop the cup, on one side.

        The lid of the cup is a thin metal disc. It has an arch-shaped hole to accomodate for the small hollow cylinder on one side of the cup. On the opposite side of the lid, however closer to the center than to the edge, is a much smaller round hole. In the middle of the lid is an additional small hollow cylinder. As well there is a rotatable 'S' shaped flap, attached to the top of the lid on the left side, near its center. There is a pale round sticker on the lid, hand-labeled simply 'G'. Around the lid are several small speckled greenish rust stains.
        Signedunsigned
        Inscribedon sticker on lid: G
        FunctionThis calorimeter was made to determine the heat capacity of a substance and/or to determine the heat released or absorbed in a chemical reaction.

        The cup would be filled with water at a known temperature. A thermometer would be dropped through the hole in the center of the lid. The substance to be measured and/or the product of the chemical reaction would be added to the water and the difference in temperature would be recorded. Given the duration of the reaction, the mass of the water, and the heat capacity of water, this rise or fall in temperature could give an appropriate calculation for the heat captured/released from the reaction and/or the specific heat capacity of the substance.
        glass electrode pH meter
        Beckman Instruments, Inc.
        Date: circa 1955
        Accessories: instructions attached to underside of box lid
        Object number: 1996-1-0276
        Hartnack model VII large compound microscope
        E. Hartnack & A. Prazmowski
        Date: circa 1880
        Accessories: objectives in green leather box (5): 2, 4, 6, 7, and unmarked; objectives in brown box (2): 2, 3; oculars (5); 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; polarizing eyepiece and substage apparatus; substage condenser; substage cup diaphragms (4); slider with sleeve to hold substage accessories; large bull's eye condenser with stand; aperture-stop rotating wheel; blue filters (3); flat case; case keys (2).
        Object number: 1145a
        nested weights
        English
        Date: circa 1820
        Accessories: 5 brass weights, brass holder, piece of lead
        Object number: DW0227
        zeoscope
        Date: circa 1880
        Accessories: mahogany case; hot cup manipulator; thermometers (2)
        Object number: 3862
        quadrant electrometer
        Jules Carpentier
        Date: circa 1880
        Object number: DW0068
        portable cyclinder electrical machine in a box
        English
        Date: circa 1800
        Accessories: Two insulated charge transfer wands.
        Object number: 0014
        cover for portable cylinder electrical machine in a box
        English
        Date: circa 1800
        Object number: 0014b
        Olivier geometric string figure of a cylinder
        Fabre et Cie
        Date: circa 1856
        Object number: 5467
        Voss influence machine
        Thomas Hall
        Date: circa 1890
        Accessories: pulley rope
        Object number: 1997-1-1423
        reversing switch with mercury contacts for bridge work, D.P.D.T.
        American
        Date: late 19th-early 20th Century
        Accessories: tilting arm (0380b)
        Object number: 0380a
        tilting arm with six contacts for reversing switch
        American
        Date: late 19th-early 20th Century
        Accessories: goes with reversing switch (0380a)
        Object number: 0380b
        electromagnetic rotation device
        E. Ducretet & Cie
        Date: 1870-1890
        Object number: DW0075