Harvard Project Physics universal power supply
Date1962-1972
Inventory Number2006-1-0084
ClassificationPower Supply
Subject
Maker
Damon Engineering, Inc.
fl. 1962 - 1972
Maker
Harvard Project Physics
1962-1972
User
Harvard College
founded 1636
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensionswithout cord: 22.2 × 20.8 × 12.3 cm (8 3/4 × 8 3/16 × 4 13/16 in.)
Material
DescriptionDC universal power supply in housing with blue anodized aluminum sides.
From the Project Physics catalog: "This DC power supply provides all power requirements for the various electronic components used throughout the Project Physics Course. Included in a fixed 8-volt regulated output to operate the amplifier and the oscillator or other electronic equipment...."
From the Project Physics catalog: "This DC power supply provides all power requirements for the various electronic components used throughout the Project Physics Course. Included in a fixed 8-volt regulated output to operate the amplifier and the oscillator or other electronic equipment...."
In Collection(s)
Signedon face: [crossed-ovals logo] DAMON
on face: Project Physics
Inscribedon face: Power Supply
on green label tape: SCI CEN NS-7
ProvenanceScience Center Physics Lab
Historical AttributesThis apparatus was designed to be used with Project Physics, a national physics curriculum developed in the 1960s. Project Physics materials included teaching aids, apparatus for student experiments, and books.
The Project Physics Course grew out of a Harvard University initiative to teach all students physics, not just those who would go on to careers in science. The course aimed to be a "humanistically oriented" introduction to "science at its best."
Damon Engineering produced and marketed a set of Project Physics laboratory equipment in coordination with the curricular work of Harvard physics professor Gerald Holton, California high school science teacher F. James Rutherford, and Harvard Graduate School of Education professor Fletcher G. Watson.
This instrument is marked "NS-7." This refers to a General Education (Gen Ed) course, Natural Sciences 7, which was colloquially known as Nat Sci 7. Nat Sci 7 was a physics course for non-scientists first taught by Gerald Holton in 1966. It was part of the newly established General Education curriculum at Harvard. Holton was vice-chairman of the Faculty Committee on General Education and Holton designed Nat 7 as a model course to "make science irresistible" and improve the public image of physics.
Damon Engineering, Inc.
Date: 1962-1972
Object number: 2006-1-0085
Damon Engineering, Inc.
Date: 1962-1972
Object number: 2006-1-0082
Damon Engineering, Inc.
Date: 1962-1972
Object number: 2006-1-0092
Damon Engineering, Inc.
Date: 1962-1972
Object number: 2006-1-0101
Damon Engineering, Inc.
Date: 1962-1972
Object number: 2006-1-0102
Perkin-Elmer Company
Date: circa 1964
Accessories: gas laser (1992-1-0002a)
Object number: 1992-1-0002b