Models of three wooden prisms used by Heinrich Hertz, 1949
- Made:
- 1949 in Science Museum
- maker:
- Science Museum, Workshops



Models (scale 1:4) of three wooden prisms used by Heinrich Hertz, made by the Science Museum Workshops, South Kensington, London, England, 1949.
These are quarter-scale models of the apparatus used by Heinrich Hertz (1857-1894) to attempt to prove experimentally the theory of James Clerk Maxwell that electromagnetic waves behaved in the same way as light. In the years 1886 to 1891 Hertz conducted a classic series of experiments which are some of the most important in science. He designed apparatus for generating and detecting electric waves. He studied them to prove that they possessed all the properties of light and radiant heat. They could be reflected, refracted and polarised and their velocity was 300,000 kilometres per second. In doing so he validated Maxwell’s theory of electromagnetism and began the progressive opening-up of the electromagnetic spectrum.
On display
Science Museum: Information Age Gallery: Cable
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Details
- Category:
- Radio Communication
- Object Number:
- 1949-52 Pt4
- Materials:
- metal (unknown) and wood (unidentified)
- Measurements:
-
overall (stacked): 410 mm x 145 mm x 305 mm, 1.41 kg
- type:
- scientific equipment
- taxonomy:
-
- furnishing and equipment
- tools & equipment
- credit:
- Made in museum
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Data in the title, made, maker and details fields are released under Creative Commons Zero
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