Accession No
1999
Brief Description
mercury vapour lamp, 1875-1925
Origin
Maker
Class
physics
Earliest Date
1875
Latest Date
1925
Inscription Date
Material
glass; metal (mercury); paper (cardboard)
Dimensions
length 153mm; breadth 112mm; depth 55mm box length 167mm; breadth 120mm; height 105mm
Special Collection
Cavendish collection
Provenance
Transferred from the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, in 1974.
Inscription
Description Notes
Glass discharge tube with spherical fluid reservoir containing mercury. Above this a long horizontal cylinder, above which are two tubes which form terminals. Cardboard box.
Condition good; complete
References
Events
Description
This lamp was made and used in the Cavendish Laboratory of Experimental Physics on Free School Lane.
When connected to electricity, the liquid mercury in this tube would vapourise. As the arc of electricity connects the two electrodes through the mercury vapour, a very bright light is created.
10/07/2025
Created by: Hannah Price on 10/07/2025
FM:40452
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