George III's tidal demonstration model

George III's tidal demonstration model

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

King's College, London| Enquiries to Science Museum, London
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Apparatus to demonstrate tidal motion, made by George Adams, Fleet Street, London, 1762.

This model was made by George Adams for King George III. The black and white ball represents the Moon, the central ivory ball represents the Earth, and the other two balls represent the water on each side of the Earth. The weights imitate the gravitational pull of the Moon. When the base was spun around the central hole at a certain speed, the Earth ball hung vertically, and it was seen that the 'water' rose on each side of the Earth.

Details

Category:
King George III
Object Number:
1927-1852
Materials:
mahogany, brass, ivory, ebony, steel (metal), paper (fibre product) and cotton (fibre)
Measurements:
overall: 177 mm x 635 mm x 90 mm, 0.88 kg
type:
tidal motion apparatus and demonstration equipment
credit:
King's College, London