Object Details
- Description
- A spherometer is used primarily to measure the curvature of objects such as lenses and curved mirrors. This rather large example belonged to Bowdoin College. It has no markings but most likely was purchased from an educational instrument maker in the 19th century. It is accompanied by an optical flat used to zero the device. It has both a vertical scale and horizontal scale on the disc. To improve accuracy, a magnifying lever is mounted on the top of the micrometer disc. The two small arms would have pointed to a secondary scale that arched over the top of the device but is now missing.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- Gift of Department of Physics and Astronomy, Bowdoin College
- ca 1800s
- ID Number
- 2001.0217.07
- catalog number
- 2001.0217.07
- accession number
- 2001.0217
- Object Name
- spherometer
- Physical Description
- metal (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 17 cm x 11.5 cm x 10.7 cm; 6 11/16 in x 4 17/32 in x 4 7/32 in
- overall: 6 11/16 in x 4 1/2 in x 4 in; 16.98625 cm x 11.43 cm x 10.16 cm
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences
- Science & Mathematics
- Spherometers
- National Museum of American History
- Subject
- Mathematics
- Record ID
- nmah_1184066
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-38b0-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
