Shimadzu UV160U Spectrophotometer
Physics
<h3>Physical Description</h3>
The spectrophotometer consists of four sections; a screen, a touchpad, a glass sample bay, a light bay, and a power control section. The spectrophotometer is similarly built to an early computer with the processing system as a base with a screen and touchpad on the top of the base. The processing system’s base is black metal before transitioning to a cream-colored metal. The power control section is the lowest control on the machine, near the base on the left side. There is an on/off switch in yellow, a fuse dial that is SA(100~117V) to 3A(220~240V), an AC power plug, and a small black dial. On the top of the base, to the left of the keypad, is a light bay. The light bay has a glass covering. Within the light bay, there is a light source, a focusing element, a sample bay, a second focusing element, a light dispersing element, and a CCD array. This is all visual while peering into the compartment. Over the light bay, in the top left corner, is a small printer that uses a receipt-like paper. In the middle of the base top is the keypad. Dividing the keypad into three sections, left, middle, and right, there are about 11 individual pads, not including the number pad. On the left starting at the top left the column is File, Mode, Auto Zero, Return, Yes and No, in the order read like a book. In the middle, there is the typical number pad found on the calculator and then enter pad. On the right going in the same order as the left, there is the Copy, Chart Feed, arrow to the left (-), arrow to the right, and the START/STOP pad. Above the keypads is a monitor screen. On the front right side of the processing unit, there is the manufacturing permanent label. a silver manufacturing plate in Japanese and English on the side to the right. At the back right corner of the processing unit is a large air vent.
<h3>Functional Description</h3>
The Shimadzu UV160U Spectrophotometer works by placing a sample into the testing bay before turning it on. Once the sample is placed, the machine may be turned on to run the sample. The light bulb will shine a light that will be directed through two monochromators, these are film that focuses the light into a single wavelength. The double-focused ray of light is redirected in two directions towards the sample cell side and the reference cell side. The beams of light are both directed to the detector, which is processed by the computer. The computer will then will display the model that is preset using the keypad below the screen. Once results are reviewed they can be printed onto the slip above the sample bay for filing.
<p>A more thorough explanation is available in the C101-E142 UV Talk Letter Vol. 16 [see PDF with images]</p>
Emma Wade, Steven Walton, and Robin Chosa
Shimadzu
1985
Japanese
Physical Object
UV-160U; Cat No. 204-04550-51, Serial No. A11429030004
Forestry, Botany, Chemistry, Physics, 20th century, 21st century, medical
Geissler Tube
Physics
<h2>Physical Description</h2>
This Geissler tube is approximately 155 centimeters long and weighs 984.4 grams or about 2.17 pounds. The outer tube is made up of symmetric sections of long tubes with a large bulb at the center. These sections themselves contain smaller sections of various tubes and bulbs. These smaller sections hold the conducting fluids and rare gases that when electrified create different colors of light. These smaller sections of glass tubing were made to be attention grabbing with swirling, spiraling and zig-zagging shapes. <br /><p><br /><strong>Condition:</strong> Damaged, electrical damage that blackened one side and knocked the platinum electrodes loose. The instrument may possibly work with a tesla field. This Geissler tube is missing the small wires that should extend from both ends to allow it to be hooked up to a power source.</p>
<h2><br />Functional Use</h2>
A Geissler tube is a gas discharge tube that lights up or fluoresces when a current is applied to the electrodes at either end of the tube. Geissler tubes were a novelty used for entertainment, but could also be used for demonstrations in classes like physics or chemistry. They were also used as high voltage indicators because they light up without contact when brought near a high voltage alternating current. Unfortunately this Geissler tube has a broken electrode on one end and is inoperable. To use the Geissler tube, the user must apply high voltage across the electrodes on each end of the glass tube. When a current is applied and flows through the tube, an electrical field is created between the two electrodes. In general, any free electrons in an electrical field will accelerate from the negative electrode towards the positive electrode. The electrons in the tube accelerating from the negative electrode to the positive electrode, will collide with the gas molecules in the tube. This collision may cause the electrons to give some of their energy to the gas molecules they are colliding with causing the gas molecules jump to a higher energy or excited state. The gas molecules do not stay in their excited state, instead they get rid of their excess energy by emitting their excess energy as light. The energy that is emitted is equal to the difference in energy between the gas molecule’s normal state and excited state. This energy determines which color of light will be emitted. The energy of the light is inversely related to the wavelength of the light and the wavelength of the light emitted is associated with a certain color of light. For example, Mercury vapor (Hg) can emit purple, blue, green or yellow color lights depending on how big the energy gap is between its excited and normal state. If the energy gap, and therefore the energy emitted is very large, Mercury will emit a purple light which has a shorter wavelength. Conversely if the energy emitted is smaller, Mercury will emit a green or yellow light which both have longer wavelengths. Although they have used almost all kinds of gasses in experimentation, Noble gasses such as Argon and Neon were favored for Geissler tubes as they are easier gasses to excite and produced a greater spectra (glowing light). Different gases have specific colors of light they can emit and so the color that the Geissler tube lights up depends on the gas inside of it.
Elisha Earley, TJ Johnston, Nick Littlefield, John Medley, and Anna Polk
Procured around the 1960's. Purchased back when Michigan Tech was transitioning names from Michigan College of Mining and Technology (MCMT) to Michigan Technological University (MTU)
English
Physical Object
No accession number
United States