William Herschel’s ‘infrared’ prism

Glass prism with lugs Glass prism with lugs Glass prism with lugs Glass prism with lugs Glass prism with lugs Glass prism with lugs Glass prism with lugs Glass prism with lugs Glass prism with lugs William Herschel’s ‘infrared’ prism William Herschel’s ‘infrared’ prism Glass prism, mounted at the end of brass tube William Herschel’s ‘infrared’ prism Glass prism, mounted at the end of brass tube

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Glass prism with lugs
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Glass prism with lugs
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Glass prism with lugs
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Glass prism with lugs
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Glass prism with lugs
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Glass prism with lugs
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Glass prism with lugs
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Glass prism with lugs
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Glass prism with lugs
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Glass prism, mounted at the end of brass tube
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Glass prism, mounted at the end of brass tube
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Glass prism with lugs, mounted at end of brass tube with threaded flange, unsigned, London, England, 1795-1805. Used by Sir William Herschel in experiments on thermal radiation in the solar spectrum. (See note)

Glass prism, mounted at end of brass tube, used by Sir William Herschel in experiments on thermal radiation in the solar spectrum. This may be the prism used by William Herschel when he accidentally discovered invisible radiation in 1800. Using the prism, he split sunlight into its different colours and measured their temperatures. He noticed that the temperature was highest beyond the red light, in a region now known as infrared.

Details

Category:
Optics
Object Number:
1876-951
Materials:
copper (alloy), brass (copper, zinc alloy) and glass
Measurements:
overall: 140 mm x 160 mm x 60 mm, 0.37kg
type:
prism -optical demonstration
credit:
The Herschel Family Archive