Ripple Tank

Object Details

Physical Science Study Committee

Description

The ripple tank demonstrated a variety of wave phenomena, and was the best known device created by the Physical Sciences Study Committee (PSSC). It was introduced in the late 1950s and remained essentially unchanged for 50 years. In this example, the tank is made of glass with wooden sides and 4 aluminum legs. A support rod, V-shaped base, and clamps hold the high power lamp. Two wooden square rods serve as straight wave generators; each is equipped with a small motor. There are, in addition, several yellow ball wave generators and several foam rubber baffles.

The light source consists of a 150-watt glass lamp mounted in a well-ventilated flat black shield. Its box is marked: The Science Source®. This firm was established in Waldoboro, Maine, in 1986. It is still in business and still selling light sources of this sort. See http://thesciencesource.com

References: PSSC, "Physics Laboratory Guide" (1960), pp. 26-33 (photos and diagrams of several ripple tank set-ups).

Central Scientific Company, "Educational Catalog" (1974), p. 48 (for ripple tank).

Location

Currently not on view

Credit Line

Gift of Uri Haber-Schaim

late 1950s

ID Number

2007.0043.05

catalog number

2007.0043.05

accession number

2007.0043

Object Name

ripple tank

Physical Description

wood (sides material)

glass (tank material)

metal (legs material)

Measurements

overall: 22 1/2 in x 22 1/2 in x 2 1/2 in; 57.15 cm x 57.15 cm x 6.35 cm

overall; ripple tank: 2 1/2 in x 22 1/2 in x 22 1/2 in; 6.35 cm x 57.15 cm x 57.15 cm

overall; lamp box: 4 7/8 in x 12 7/8 in x 9 1/2 in; 12.3825 cm x 32.7025 cm x 24.13 cm

overall; tray with parts: 2 3/4 in x 14 1/2 in x 24 1/8 in; 6.985 cm x 36.83 cm x 61.2775 cm

Place Made

United States: Massachusetts, Cambridge

See more items in

Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences

Sputnik

Science & Mathematics

National Museum of American History

Subject

Science & Scientific Instruments

Record ID

nmah_1321761

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-5587-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa