Chladni figures
Date
1885
Creator
Mary Tomlinson (British) , Illustrator
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (paper support): 320mm
width (paper support): 198mm
width (paper support): 198mm
Subject
Description
Twelve figures showing nodal lines on vibrating plates.
Illustrations from the manuscript version of the paper ‘Note on an experiment by Chladni’, by Charles Tomlinson, Proceedings of the Royal Society, v.38 (1884), pp.247-250. Published as figures 1-12, plate 1.
In a series of experiments crediting the discovery of this phenomenon to Ernst Chladni (1756-1827) the author used flat, blackened plates made of brass, bronze, bell metal, white metal and glass. These were dusted with mixtures of sand, sulphur and lycopodium and then subjected to vibration by means of a violin bow to create the patterns shown.
Inscribed in ink with numbers below each figure and with pencilled instruction to the printer.
Charles Tomlinson (1808-1897) British science teacher and writer was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1867. His niece Mary Tomlinson cared for him at his Highgate home from 1880 and composed a posthumous biography.
Illustrations from the manuscript version of the paper ‘Note on an experiment by Chladni’, by Charles Tomlinson, Proceedings of the Royal Society, v.38 (1884), pp.247-250. Published as figures 1-12, plate 1.
In a series of experiments crediting the discovery of this phenomenon to Ernst Chladni (1756-1827) the author used flat, blackened plates made of brass, bronze, bell metal, white metal and glass. These were dusted with mixtures of sand, sulphur and lycopodium and then subjected to vibration by means of a violin bow to create the patterns shown.
Inscribed in ink with numbers below each figure and with pencilled instruction to the printer.
Charles Tomlinson (1808-1897) British science teacher and writer was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1867. His niece Mary Tomlinson cared for him at his Highgate home from 1880 and composed a posthumous biography.
Associated place