Burning glass
Date
1799
Creator
Unknown, Engraver
Object type
Library reference
RCN30834
Material
Technique
Dimensions
height (print): 206mm
width (print): 132mm
width (print): 132mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Study of a circular, concave burning glass, or Archimedes’ mirror, presented on a four-legged pedestal mount. With a section through the mirror, showing its construction, including a valve to pump out air at its rear.
Plate 11 from the book Histoire naturelle, généralle et particuliére…Nouvelle edition, by Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon and C.S. Sonnini, volume 5 (Paris 1799).
Inscribed above: ‘Planche XI.’
The accompanying text describes the mechanism as: ‘Miroir de réflexion rendu concave par la pression de l'atmosphère’. (Reflecting mirror made concave by atmospheric pressure). The text goes on to describe the mirror, which is built as a pressure vessel or cylinder, one side of which is glazed, and the other an iron plate. By drawing air from its centre, the glass becomes concave.
Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (1707-1788), French naturalist and man of science, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1740.
Charles-Nicolas-Sigisbert Sonnini de Manoncourt (1751-1812), French naturalist.
Plate 11 from the book Histoire naturelle, généralle et particuliére…Nouvelle edition, by Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon and C.S. Sonnini, volume 5 (Paris 1799).
Inscribed above: ‘Planche XI.’
The accompanying text describes the mechanism as: ‘Miroir de réflexion rendu concave par la pression de l'atmosphère’. (Reflecting mirror made concave by atmospheric pressure). The text goes on to describe the mirror, which is built as a pressure vessel or cylinder, one side of which is glazed, and the other an iron plate. By drawing air from its centre, the glass becomes concave.
Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (1707-1788), French naturalist and man of science, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1740.
Charles-Nicolas-Sigisbert Sonnini de Manoncourt (1751-1812), French naturalist.
Associated place