 Some types of thermometers and a "dew-point" hygrometer |
Displayed here are the instruments and apparatus for experimentation coming from the famous Accademia del Cimento, founded by Ferdinando II dei Medici in 1657. This Florentine Academy, which remained active until 1667, was the theater for observation and major experiments in many fields of physics, in particular that of thermometry, which underwent fast-paced development following the Torricellian experiment of 1644. In the display cases of this room can be seen the delicate, intricate shapes of dozens of thermometers, among the first constructed by man, products of the ingenuity of refined, highly skilled maker. The Accademia del Cimento made major contributions to astronomy as well, measuring the speed of sound. |