Physics Museum

Collection of scientific instruments relating to or depending on physical principles as well as associated books and catalogues

Address: 
Parnell Building St Lucia Campus, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD
Tel: 
0733653369
Hours: 
1-2pm, Wednesdays during teaching periods
Admission: 
None
Facilities: 
Web catalogue available, tours by arrangement, reference library
Collection: 
Most of the instruments date from the first quarter of the Twentieth Century, with Cambridge (Scientific) Instrument Company being well represented, Optical and electrical instruments comprise the majority of the collection, but most area of physics are represented.

Items

Oscilloscope

Cathode Ray Oscillopscope

Cathode Ray Oscillopscope
Creator:
Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia Ltd)
Description:
Type R6673, serial number 4. An early Australian made cathode ray oscilloscope of primitive appearance and performance
Date:
C1950
Item Id Number:
13

Photometer

Flicker Photometer

Flicker Photometer
Creator:
Max Kohl, Chemist
Description:
Used to visually compare the brightness of two light sources
Date:
c.1912
Item Id Number:
113

Microscope

MSL microscope

MSL microscope
Creator:
Munitions supply laboratories, Melbourne
Description:
Student microscope produced after WWII by laboratories set up for wartime production of gunsights and other military optical equipment
Date:
C1950
Item Id Number:
60

Reference H C Bolton, Aust. Phys 27, 3l 31-43 (1990)

Boys Radiomicrometer

Boys Radiomicrometer

Boys Radiomicrometer
Creator:
Cambridge Scientific Instrument Co Ltd
Description:
Instrument has mirror and thermocouple and coil on a quartz fibre suspension between poles of a horseshoe magnet. Sensitive detector of thermal radiation.
Date:
C1910
Item Id Number:
40

Could detect candle flame at two mile range

Electrodynameter

Sumpner Reflecting Electrodynamometer

Sumpner Reflecting Electrodynamometer
Creator:
Robt. W Paul, London
Description:
A circular ebonite base with three levelling feet carries a reflecting galvanometer with its coil suspended between the poles of an electromagnet.
Date:
c.1910
Item Id Number:
118

Used by first lecturer in physics at the University of Queensland, Thomas Parnell in work leading to first research publication in Physics at the University.