Recreate Experiments from History: Inform the Future from the Past: Galileo

Glass Blowing and Lenses

Activities in the glass blowing lab

A glass sphere made by Peter Houk. Artist Peter Houk lays out white glass rods on a ceramic table. The rods will be incorporated into the formation of a reticello vase. A glassblower works with an incandescent hot glass form. One glassblower [left] places the vessel in the hot chamber to heat it; the other [right] collects hot glass from the molten supply in the furnace. The white glass rods are laid on a table to be incorporated into the hot glass form. The hot glass glob is rolled over the cool glass rods, picking them up as extensions of the form. The hot glob with rods is rolled across the metal table. A glassblower blows into the pipe, inflating the form as it is worked by the other glass blower. The glass vase on the end of the blowpipe before it is removed. Rolling the second vase with its rods going the other way, on the metal table. Forming the vase with the second set of rods. The glassblowers pipe is the horizontal rod with a red glowing glass at the end, striated with stripes of white rod glass. The rod bearing the glass is rolled back and forth on a metal support, shaping the vase. Removing the first vase from the annealing oven, so as to combine it with the second vase. Students view the combined vases. The criss-cross network of the combined vase. Rolling the criss-cross vase on the metal table. Reforming the vase in a wood paddle. Shaping the vase end with tongs. Hot glass drips off the vessel after it has been dipped in the furnace for a clear outer coating. Reshaping the clear and network form. Student shines a light through a grid on curved plastic. A student looks through two different lenses, held in clothespin supports. A student arranges and looks through lenses. A student compares two lenses. Comparing a glass sphere [right] with a lens. Looking through a lens. The signs lettering as seen through a lens. A student looks through two lenses mounted on the table. Student drawing made while viewing through a lens. Viewing the night sky through a lens that had already been explored in the lab. Student looking through a lens outdoors at night.