Scientific Instruments And Their Uses

Scientific Instruments are specifically designed instruments used in science research activities and laboratories. These instruments are used to rationally and logically explain the fundamentals of science through practical representation. Further, these instruments help in having accurate and clear observations of various experiments, which are generally performed in laboratories and scientific research centers.

 

Some of these instruments are Microscopes, Gravimeter, Electroscope, Spectrogram, Voltmeter, Magnetometer, DNA Sequencer, Calorimeter and many others.
Scientific Instruments are basically used to control, enhance, simplify and extend instrumental functions. Furthermore, these are helpful in doing parameter adjustments, data sampling, collection, resolution, analysis (both after as well as during process), storage, retrieval of statistics and data recording. One can find wide range of sizes in these instruments. For instance, particle colliders, radio telescopes are very huge and bulky. On the other hand, we have diagnostic machines, which are comparatively smaller in size.

• Accelerometer:- It is an instrument designed to measure acceleration. 

Available in single as well as multi axis models, these instruments are accurately measure direction and magnitude. In addition to this, it can also measure and detect gravitational waves.

• Anemometer:- It is a specifically designed instrument required in

measurement of speed and pressure of wind. It is mainly used at weather stations. These are available in various shapes and sizes, customized for different uses and applications.

• Calorimeter:- It finds its application in measuring physical changes,

chemical reactions and heat capacity. It is available in different variations such as Isothermal Micro Calorimeters, Scanning Calorimeters and Accelerated Rate Calorimeters.

• DNA Sequencer:- DNA sequencing process is automated using this

particular scientific instrument. It is commonly used in field of biotechnology, diagnostics and forensic biology.

• Electrometer & Electroscopes:- An electrometer is an instrument

used for measuring electric charge and electrical potential difference. Modern day electrometer can be used to make voltage and charge measurements with low leakage currents. Electroscopes work on similar principle but indicates relative magnitude of voltage and charges.

• Electrostatic Analyzer:- These instrument is employed in electric field

 

to allow passage for electrons or ions that possess specific energy.

• Gravimeter: - Gravimeter, also known as Gravitometer, is used to

measure the local gravitational field of the Earth. There are two types of gravimeter: absolute and relative. Absolute gravimeter measures local gravity in absolute units. Relative gravimeter compares the value of gravity at one point with another.

• Spectogram:- It is an instrument widely used to measure sound

frequency, amplitude and wavelength of sound waves. Moreover, it is used in various fields other than science such as Music, Speech Processing, Seismology, Sonar/Radar.

• Magnetometer:- It is an instrument used to measure strength or 

direction of magnetic field. This magnetic field can be natural or artificially created in laboratories. Magnetometers can be applied in various fields like Submarines, Locating Toxic Waste Drums, Weather Predictions, Heart Beat Monitors, Archeology, Drill Guidance Systems, Radio Wave Propagation, Planet Exploration and others.

• Oscilloscope:- It is a type of electronic test instrument. It is used to 

observe the constantly varying signal voltages, wavelength, frequency, amplitude and waveform shape/ pattern.

Spectrometer:-  This instrument is specially designed to measure specific

patterns of light over a specific portion of electromagnetic spectrum. It is mainly used in spectroscopy for producing spectral lines. In addition to this, it measures wavelengths and intensities of these lines over a specific range.

Various Types of Scientific Instruments

Scientific Equipment, as the word suggests, are scientifically/specially designed artifacts, that are instrumental in carrying out scientific experiments, taking measurements and gathering data. If you have ever been to a scientific instruments manufacturers, you might have noticed the plethora intricate machines, apparatus, and sophisticated devices that are used by the scientists while working. Although scientific instruments are a part of laboratory equipments, they, in general are, more sophisticated more specialized than the latter. They usually incorporate computing technology to improve and simplify control, enhance and extend instrumental functions, conditions, parameter adjustments and data sampling, collection, resolution, analysis (both during and post-process), storage and retrieval.

A few Scientific Equipment are discussed below:

• Microscope: Microscopes are probably the most common scientific equipment and are used to observe microorganisms, objects that are far too small for the naked eye. The word Microscope comes from the Greek word mikros, meaning small and skopein, "to look" or "see". The origin of the microscope can be traced back to the late 16th century, to Hans Lippershey and Zacharias Janssen, two glass makers from Middelburg, Netherlands. Although the optical microscope is the most commonly used and the first to be invented, there exist numerous different kinds today. A typical optical microscope contains one or more lenses and uses light to form an enlarged image of a sample placed in the focal plane. Optical microscopes have refractive glass and occasionally of plastic or quartz, to focus light into the eye or another light detector.

Microscope

• Spectrometer: A Spectrometer is a scientific instruments manufacturers used to measure light across a spectrum. It functions by splitting the light collected by a telescope into all its colors, which allows scientists and astronomers see the details in the light from space. By measuring what specific parts of the spectrum are bright or dim, analysis of the light can be done, and this can tell us a good deal about the source of the light. Spectrometer operate over a very wide range of wavelengths, from gamma rays and X-rays into the far infrared. A few different types of spectrometers are Prism Spectrometer, Mass spectrometer, UV Spectrometer, Optical spectrometer, Grating Spectrometer, Color Spectrometer, Infrared Spectrometer, Raman Spectrometer.

Spectrometer

• Operand Conditioning Chambers: The operand conditioning chamber is also called a Skinner box. This equipment was made by B.F. Skinner while he was studying at Harvard University. This type of laboratory equipment is primarily used for studying and analyzing the behavior of the animals. The device is used to study both classical conditioning and operand conditioning.

Operand Conditioning Chambers

• Telescope: The telescope is an Scientific Equipment used to observe distant objects by electromagnetic radiation. Although Galilio is often credited for inventing the telescope, history documents that telescopes were used even in the early 16th century in Netherlands. In the early part telescopes used glass lenses and mirrors but with the advent of newer technology, radio telescope and infrared telescopes came into being.

Telescope

In contemporary times, the word telescope now refers to a wide range of instruments detecting different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, and in some cases other types of detectors.