Microscope, Producer Josef Goerner, Prague 1776

The first physical instruments were acquired into the collection in 1911. In the mid-40s the collection contained about 150 objects. A great increase in number of items came in 1949 and during the 50s. The collections include, above all, demonstrating and educating aids, experimental instruments and instruments of practical use. The instruments originate from the period of 18th - 20th centuries. The collection of physics is divided into the following groups: mechanics, acoustics, optics, thermique, electricity and magnetism, meteorology and quantum physics. The collection of physics comprises almost 1300 objects. Interesting items of the collection are historically precious meteorological instruments from the observatory of Prague Klementinum and a collection of mercury barometers. The largest group in the physical collection is devoted to electricity. A high quality collection of microscopes contains more than 100 pieces. Dominating in the collection of measures and weights are sets of half-an-ounce weights, e.g. the set from Augsburg from around 1725. The collection contains also several Czech inventions, for instance, the first polarograph by Heyrovsky from 1924 and a prototype of the equipment for production of contact lenses by Otto Wichterle from the early 60s.