Harvard Project Physics thermistor and heat sink assembly
Date: 1962-1972
Inventory Number: 2006-1-0102
Classification: Physics Experiment
Subject:
Maker: Damon Engineering, Inc. (fl. 1962 - 1972)
Maker: Harvard Project Physics (1962-1972)
User: Harvard College (founded 1636)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
plain bar: 15.3 × 2.5 × 1 cm (6 × 1 × 3/8 in.)
bar w/ yellow dot: 12.7 × 4 × 0.9 cm (5 × 1 9/16 × 3/8 in.)
Description:
This is the thermistor and heat sink assembly consisting of three lead strips, two wires, and thermistors. It is packaged in a plastic bag along with the original packing slip.
Description from Project Physics catalog: "This unit consists of a temperature-sensitive resistor (thermistor) mounted in a lead strip and is used for demonstrating the conversion of kinetic energy into the mechanical equivalent of heat. When used with the amplifier and the micro-amp meter, a temperature rise of 1° F in the low heat-capacity, high heat-conductivity lead is sufficent to deflect the meter full scale."
Description from Project Physics catalog: "This unit consists of a temperature-sensitive resistor (thermistor) mounted in a lead strip and is used for demonstrating the conversion of kinetic energy into the mechanical equivalent of heat. When used with the amplifier and the micro-amp meter, a temperature rise of 1° F in the low heat-capacity, high heat-conductivity lead is sufficent to deflect the meter full scale."
In Collection(s)
Signedon packing slip: [crossed-ovals logo] DAMON
on packing slip: Project Physics
on packing slip: [crossed-ovals logo] DAMON / EDUCATIONAL DIVISION 80 WILSON WAY, WESTWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS 02090
on packing slip: Project Physics
on packing slip: [crossed-ovals logo] DAMON / EDUCATIONAL DIVISION 80 WILSON WAY, WESTWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS 02090
Historical AttributesThis apparatus was designed to be used with Project Physics, a national physics curriculum developed in the 1960s. Project Physics materials included teaching aids, apparatus for student experiments, and books.
The Project Physics Course grew out of a Harvard University initiative to teach all students physics, not just those who would go on to careers in science. The course aimed to be a "humanistically oriented" introduction to "science at its best."
Damon Engineering produced and marketed a set of Project Physics laboratory equipment in coordination with the curricular work of Harvard physics professor Gerald Holton, California high school science teacher F. James Rutherford, and Harvard Graduate School of Education professor Fletcher G. Watson.
The Project Physics Course grew out of a Harvard University initiative to teach all students physics, not just those who would go on to careers in science. The course aimed to be a "humanistically oriented" introduction to "science at its best."
Damon Engineering produced and marketed a set of Project Physics laboratory equipment in coordination with the curricular work of Harvard physics professor Gerald Holton, California high school science teacher F. James Rutherford, and Harvard Graduate School of Education professor Fletcher G. Watson.
Primary SourcesThe Project Physics Collection of course books is archived online here.
Linda J. Greenhouse, "Gerald Holton: The Discovery That Scientists Are Also Philosophers Should Not Depend On Accidents," The Harvard Crimson, December 12, 1966; found online here.
Linda J. Greenhouse, "Gerald Holton: The Discovery That Scientists Are Also Philosophers Should Not Depend On Accidents," The Harvard Crimson, December 12, 1966; found online here.
ProvenanceScience Center Physics Lab, Harvard University