ClipArt ETC

The General Physics ClipArt gallery offers 239 images showing principles of the science and proof of theorems. Physics is the science of basic concepts such as energy and force.

A manual air pump. R is the receiver. The space that the receiver encloses is what it removes the air from.

Air Pump

A manual air pump. R is the receiver. The space that the receiver encloses is what it removes the air…

This image is a centrifugal pump with one half of the casing removed. S is a hollow hub, a is a curved arm, also called a vane or wing, and are revolved with a high velocity of the arrow. The air between them is driven out by the discharge and pipe D. A centrifugal pump is a valuable instrument for raising water to enormous heights.

Centrifugal Pump

This image is a centrifugal pump with one half of the casing removed. S is a hollow hub, a is a curved…

A lifting pump is used when water needs to be raised to a greater height than what can be done with an ordinary suction pump.

Lifting Pump

A lifting pump is used when water needs to be raised to a greater height than what can be done with…

Sprengel's vacuum pump. c d is a long glass tube. A is a funnel, R is a receiver, B is a flask and H is a dish. This vacuum pump was invented by Hanover native Hermann Sprengel in 1865

Vacuum Pump

Sprengel's vacuum pump. c d is a long glass tube. A is a funnel, R is a receiver, B is a flask and H…

An instrument which serves to transform radiant energy into mechanical work. Have 4 vanes, with one side white and the other black.

Radiometer

An instrument which serves to transform radiant energy into mechanical work. Have 4 vanes, with one…

A hydraulic ram. It is used to raise the level of water from a point below water level of a spring to a point that is higher and has no power other than that of that caused by the inertia of the moving water.

Hydraulic Ram

A hydraulic ram. It is used to raise the level of water from a point below water level of a spring to…

"Suppose a, b, to be a marble floor, and c, to be an ivory ball, which has be thrown towards the floor in the direction of the line c e; it will rebound in the direction of the line e d, thus making the two angles f and g exactly equal." -Comstock 1850

Reflected Motion

"Suppose a, b, to be a marble floor, and c, to be an ivory ball, which has be thrown towards the floor…

"If the ball approaches the floor under a larger or smaller angle, its rebound will observe the same rule [of reflected motion]." -Comstock 1850

Reflected Motion

"If the ball approaches the floor under a larger or smaller angle, its rebound will observe the same…

"The angle, ABD, included between the direction of the moving body before it strikes the reflecting surface, and a perpendicular to that surface drawn from the point of contact, is called the angle of incidence. The angle between the perpendicular and the direction of the moving body after striking is called the angle of reflection." -Avery 1895

Law of Reflected Motion

"The angle, ABD, included between the direction of the moving body before it strikes the reflecting…

"... if a ball be thrown from F against the surface B C so as to strike it perpendicularly at A, it will return in the line A F. If thrown from D however, it will glance off on the other side of the perpendicular, at the same angle, to E." —Quackenbos 1859

Reflected Motion

"... if a ball be thrown from F against the surface B C so as to strike it perpendicularly at A, it…

"The ball C is placed on a square frame between two upright wires, on each of which a ball slides so as to strike C when it descends. Let the ball A drop, and it will drive C to D... Let the ball B drop, and it will drive C to E; this is simple motion. Let A and B drop at the same instant, and they will drive C to F; this is resultant motion." —Quackenbos 1859

Resultant Motion with Ball

"The ball C is placed on a square frame between two upright wires, on each of which a ball slides so…

"We have an example of resultant motion in a boat which a person attempts to row north across a river, while the tide carries it to the east. Each force produces the same effect as if acted alone; and the boatman, when he has crossed the river, will find himself neither due north nor due east of the point from which he started, but northeast of it." —Quackenbos 1859

Resultant Motion with Boat

"We have an example of resultant motion in a boat which a person attempts to row north across a river,…

"Let, for instance, the force used by the boatman be twice as great as that of the tide. Then by the time he would reach B, the tide would have carried his boat one-half of that distance, to D." —Quackenbos 1859

Resultant Motion with Boat

"Let, for instance, the force used by the boatman be twice as great as that of the tide. Then by the…

This figure represents the principle that says if an open vessel of liquid is rapidly rotated round a vertical axis, the surface of the liquid assumes a concave form.

Rotating Vessel of Liquid

This figure represents the principle that says if an open vessel of liquid is rapidly rotated round…

A measure of the heaviness of an object.

Scientific Type Scale

A measure of the heaviness of an object.

This is a hydraulic weighing scale were the object is placed on a base and later water is filled into the vessel to accurately measure the objects weight.

Weighing Scale

This is a hydraulic weighing scale were the object is placed on a base and later water is filled into…

An illustration of a lever scale.

Lever Scales

An illustration of a lever scale.

In the second order of levers, the weight is between the power and the fulcrum.

Second Order of Lever

In the second order of levers, the weight is between the power and the fulcrum.

"...shows a piece in double shear; here the central piece c d is forced out, while the ends remain on their supports M and N." —Hallock 1905

Double Shear

"...shows a piece in double shear; here the central piece c d is forced out, while the ends remain on…

"The shearing strength of any material is the resistance offered by its fibers to being cut in two, as shown [here]." —Hallock 1905

Shearing Strength

"The shearing strength of any material is the resistance offered by its fibers to being cut in two,…

The siphon is an instrument in which a liquid, under the combined action of its own weight and atmospheric pressure, flows first uphill and then downhill.

Siphon

The siphon is an instrument in which a liquid, under the combined action of its own weight and atmospheric…

A Siphon can be started by inserting one end of a tube in the liquid and sucking at the other end. It is more convenient to apply suction by means of a side tube as shown to prevent the liquid from entering the mouth.

Starting the Siphon

A Siphon can be started by inserting one end of a tube in the liquid and sucking at the other end. It…

A siphon, which illustrates the effects of atmospheric pressure.

The Siphon

A siphon, which illustrates the effects of atmospheric pressure.

"Sonometer used when studying waves." -Avery 1895

Sonometer

"Sonometer used when studying waves." -Avery 1895

One of the commonest ways of determining the density of a solid body is to weight it first in air and then in water.

Specific Gravity of Solids

One of the commonest ways of determining the density of a solid body is to weight it first in air and…

Sponge plan, capillary principle. Illustration of an unsuccessful scheme for a perpetual-motion device.

Sponge Plan

Sponge plan, capillary principle. Illustration of an unsuccessful scheme for a perpetual-motion device.

A long, spiral spring.

Spring

A long, spiral spring.

The steelyard is an instrument for weighing bodies by means of a single weight which can be hung at any point of a graduated arm.

Steelyard

The steelyard is an instrument for weighing bodies by means of a single weight which can be hung at…

Pressure upon an oblique surface. In the image, pressure acts on all sides of the surface equally.

Oblique Surfaces

Pressure upon an oblique surface. In the image, pressure acts on all sides of the surface equally.

A pneumatic syringe is used to show that heat can be made from the compression of gases.

Pneumatic Syringe

A pneumatic syringe is used to show that heat can be made from the compression of gases.

In the third order of levers, the power is between the weight and the fulcrum.

Third Order of Lever

In the third order of levers, the power is between the weight and the fulcrum.

This experiment showed that every surface exposed to the atmosphere sustains a normal pressure equal to the weight of a column of mercury whose base is this surface and whose height is 30 inches.

Torricellian Experiment

This experiment showed that every surface exposed to the atmosphere sustains a normal pressure equal…

Trajectory is the path a moving object follows through space. A trajectory can be described mathematically either by the geometry of the path, or as the position of the object over time.

Trajectory

Trajectory is the path a moving object follows through space. A trajectory can be described mathematically…

A tube open at both ends with the lower end covered with a piece of card, plunged into the water. The liquid will press the card against the bottom of the tube with a force which increases as it is plunged deeper.

Upward Pressure

A tube open at both ends with the lower end covered with a piece of card, plunged into the water. The…

As you pour water into a Cup of Tantalus, the cup fills with water, but after it reaches a certain height, the water begins to drain through the siphon.

Vase of Tantalus

As you pour water into a Cup of Tantalus, the cup fills with water, but after it reaches a certain height,…

water is issued from a hole in both vessels, one with a thin wall and one with a thick wall, the stream contracts a short distance from the vessel, and then expands again. This contraction is called a contracted vein, which was named by Sir Isaac Newton.

Contracted Vein

water is issued from a hole in both vessels, one with a thin wall and one with a thick wall, the stream…

If water is discharged through a tube whose length is 1.5 to 3 times larger than the orifice, then the discharge is increased.

Contracted Vein

If water is discharged through a tube whose length is 1.5 to 3 times larger than the orifice, then the…

If water is to be discharged and the inside edges are rounded and the tube is conical, then no contraction will take place.

Contracted Vein

If water is to be discharged and the inside edges are rounded and the tube is conical, then no contraction…

"Support, as shown, a glass or brass plate, square or round, and strew it evenly with fine sand. Place the finger at any point of the edge of the plate, so as to form a node there, and draw a violin bow at a point properly chosen. The sand immediately begins to dance on the plate and arrange itself along nodal lines. By changing the nodal points and bowing properly, other sand-figures may be produced, one of which is shown." -Avery 1895

Vibrating Plates

"Support, as shown, a glass or brass plate, square or round, and strew it evenly with fine sand. Place…

"Start a trough from A. At the moment of its reflection as a crest a B, start a crest at A as shown. The two crests will meet near the middle of the rope. The crest at the point and moment of meeting results from two forces acting in the same direction; their resultatnt is greater than either of the components." -Avery 1895

Constructive Interference

"Start a trough from A. At the moment of its reflection as a crest a B, start a crest at A as shown.…

"Using the rope...start a crest at A. At the moment of its reflection at B as a trough, start a second crest at A. The trough and crest will meet near the middle of the rope. the rope particles at this point, being thus simultaneously acted upon by opposite forces, will remain at rest or nearly so." -Avery 1895

Destructive Interference

"Using the rope...start a crest at A. At the moment of its reflection at B as a trough, start a second…

"Suport a soft cotton rope several yards long between two fixed supports, as the opposite sides of the room, or the floor and the ceiling. With a ruler, strike the rope a blow near one end so as to form a crest, as shown. Vary the tension of the rope if necessary, until the crest is easily seem. Notice the crest, c, travels from A to B, where it is reflected back to A as a trough, t." -Avery 1895

Fixed Wave Reflection

"Suport a soft cotton rope several yards long between two fixed supports, as the opposite sides of the…

"Tie one end of a soft cotton rope about 20 feet long to a fixed support, and hold the other end in the hand. Move the hand up and down with a quick, sudden motion, so as to set up a series of waves in the rope, as shown, in which each curved line may be considered an instantaneous photograph of a rope thus shaken." -Avery 1895

Form of Waves

"Tie one end of a soft cotton rope about 20 feet long to a fixed support, and hold the other end in…

An illustration of waves demonstrating different nodes.

Waves

An illustration of waves demonstrating different nodes.

"...represents two sets of sound waves with like periods and phases but different amplitudes." -Avery 1895

Waves with Different Amplitudes with Equal Periods

"...represents two sets of sound waves with like periods and phases but different amplitudes." -Avery…

"...represents two wave systems of equal periods and amplitudes but of opposite phases." -Avery 1895

Waves with Equal Periods and Opposite Amplitudes

"...represents two wave systems of equal periods and amplitudes but of opposite phases." -Avery 1895

"Showing diagrammatically one explanation of the production of light waves by revolving electrons." —Croft 1917

Light Waves Explanation

"Showing diagrammatically one explanation of the production of light waves by revolving electrons."…

"Diagram indicating one explanation which has been advanced for light and heat waves generated by the movement of an electron around its orbit in a molecule and by the simultaneous movement of the molecule." —Croft 1917

Light Waves

"Diagram indicating one explanation which has been advanced for light and heat waves generated by the…

"...represents two such wave systems meeting in opposite phases." -Avery 1895

Waves with Opposite Phases

"...represents two such wave systems meeting in opposite phases." -Avery 1895

This experiment filled globe alternately with ordinary air and comnpressed air to determine the weight of air.

Weight of Air

This experiment filled globe alternately with ordinary air and comnpressed air to determine the weight…

A weir is a rectangular orifice that is used to measure water discharge. In this example, the top of the weir is level with the top of the top of the box it is on.

Weir

A weir is a rectangular orifice that is used to measure water discharge. In this example, the top of…

A weir is a fancy name for a rectangular opening. Some even give it another name: rectangular notch.

Weir

A weir is a fancy name for a rectangular opening. Some even give it another name: rectangular notch.

The wheel barometer consists of a siphon barometer, the two branches of which have usually the same diameter.

Wheel Barometer

The wheel barometer consists of a siphon barometer, the two branches of which have usually the same…

"Rotation of a Wheel. The same force which throws the wire away from the mercury, will cause the rotation of a spur-wheel. For this purpose the conducting wire, instead of being suspended, as in the former experiment, must be fixed firmly to the arm. A support for the axis of the wheel may be made by soldering a short piece to the side of the conducting wire, so as to make the form of a fork, the lower end of which must be flattened with a hammer, and pierced with fine orifices, o recieve the ends of the axis." —Comstock, 1850

Wheel Rotation

"Rotation of a Wheel. The same force which throws the wire away from the mercury, will cause the rotation…

"The laws of centrifugal force may be studied or illustrated by means of the whirling table and accompanying appartaus." -Avery 1895

Whirling Table

"The laws of centrifugal force may be studied or illustrated by means of the whirling table and accompanying…

A whirling-table, with a brass tube attached. A cork is shooting out of the tube.

Whirling table

A whirling-table, with a brass tube attached. A cork is shooting out of the tube.

"...represents a very valuable attachment for the whirling table. A ball of known mass slides on a horizonal wire. To this ball is attached a flexible cord that turns around a pulley at the bottom, divides into two, passes over the pulleys at the top, and carries adjustable and slotted disk weights." -Avery 1895

Attachment for the Whirling Table

"...represents a very valuable attachment for the whirling table. A ball of known mass slides on a horizonal…

"Vibration of a wire. A conducting copper wire, w, is suspended by a loop from a hook of the same metal, which passes through the arm of metal or wood, as seen in the cut. The upper end of the hook terminates in the cup P, to contain mercury. The lower end of the copper wire just touched the mercury, Q, contained in a little trough about an inch long, formed in the wood on which the horseshoe magnet, M, is laid, the mercury being equally distant from the two poles. The cup, N, has a stem of wire which passes through the wood of the platform into the mercury, this end of the wire being tinned, or amalgamated, so as to form a perfect contact." —Comstock, 1850

Wire Vibration

"Vibration of a wire. A conducting copper wire, w, is suspended by a loop from a hook of the same metal,…

Example of outer work. Outer work is the overcoming of the outside pressure through a certain distance by means of expanding. As the piston in the image is lowered, no outer work is done. Inner work is done. Inner work is the to push molecules farther apart against the force of cohesion that is trying to hold them together.

Outer Work

Example of outer work. Outer work is the overcoming of the outside pressure through a certain distance…