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BASIC SCIENCES
The 1934 "Offical Handbook" of Basic Sciences is a 184 page
guide to the exhibits in the Hall of Science. The Hall of Science also
included a theater where motion pictures on scientific subjects were
shown. Although the exhibits were divided into groups, it was noted that
the
various
sciences
which
were
once considered separate fields were actually closely related and interdependent.
The exhibits were grouped as follows:
Group 1—The
Great Hall
Eight basic exhibits were selected on the basis of outstanding importance
and interest. The visitor was advised to study these exhibits before
visiting the specialized exhibits. These exhibits covered:
- The Periodic Table
of the Elements—A
ten foot model of the earth was mounted above a display of 92 elements
which make up the earth.
- Stratosphere Flights—The
balloon "Century of Progress" ascended to the stratosphere 11-1/2 miles
above the earth on November 20, 1933 in order to make scientific observations
and measurements. The flight began in Akron, Ohio and ended eight hours
later near Bridgeton, New Jersey.
- The Geological
Time Clock—During a cycle about four
minutes in length representing the "passing of time from infinite
past to infinite future," the present species of man did not appear
until
the last few seconds.
- Model of a Molecule
of Table Salt—Two spheres represented a positive
ion of sodium and a negative ion of chlorine.Electrons and nuclei
were represented by lights.
- The Gyroscopic
Compass—This instrument shown was used as
a master compass on a ship. The axle of this type of compass
points
in the
same direction as the axis of the earth's rotation, indicating
true North and South, unlike a magnetic compass.
- Rotating Magnetic
Fields—Rotating magnetic fields convert electrical
energy into mechanical energy. This principle was also exhibited
at the 1893 World's Fair.
- Heavy Hydrogen
and Heavy Water—This was a recent and important
discovery.
- The Growing Twig—An
animated model of a linden twig "grew" from three to four years in
a few seconds, showing how annual rings are formed and can be used
to determine the age of a tree.
Group 2—Mathematics
PHYSICS
Group 3—Molecular
Physics
Group 4—Sound
and Speech
Group 5—Electromagnetism
Group 6—Electromagnetism
Group 7—Light
Group 8—Color
and Rays
The principle of
television was demonstrated in an exhibit constructed by M. L. Hayes.
The process involved breaking down a picture into elements of light and
dark in the transmitter, and then using the same elements to build up
the picture in the receiver.
CHEMISTRY
Group 9—Chemical
Changes
Group 10—Colloid
Chemistry
Group 11—The
Chemistry of Petroleum
Group 12—The
Chemistry of Rubber
Group 13—The
Chemistry of Air
Group 14—Electrochemistry
Group 15—Chemistry
of Coal Tar
A German writer predicted in 1910 that "The future belongs
to the nation which makes the best use of its coal resources." Among the
many products derived from coal tar were explosives, medicines, plastics,
dyes, solvents, fertilizers, perfumes, flavors, food preservatives, photographic
materials and lacquers.
Group 16—Chemistry
of Digestion
A 10-foot tall mechanical man gave a lecture-demonstration
every half hour in the Robot Theater. The highlight was a special motion
picture which was projected from behind onto the transparent shirt front
of the Robot. The picture illustrated various digestive processes whil
the Robot described them.
BIOLOGY
Group 17—The
Cell—Fundamental Unit of Life
Group 18—Growth
of Animals— Embryology
Group 19—Structure
and Functions of Human Organs
Group 20—Animal
Behavior and the Environment
Group 21—Genetics
and Eugenics
Group 22—Oceanography
Group 23—Comparative
Anatomy (Vertebrates)
Group 24—Evolution
Experimentally Produced
Group 26—Economic
Biology
Group 27—Micro-Organisms
Group 28—Distribution
of Living Creatures
Group 29—Classification
of Plants and Animals
Group 30—Yeast
and Fermentation
Group 31—Vitamins
Group 32—Wax,
A Biological Product
GEOLOGY
Group 33—Introduction
to Geology
Group 34—The
Earth
Group 35—Ground
Water Phenomena
Group 36—Work
of the Wind
Group 37—Work
of Running Water
Group 38—Glaciation
Group 39—Volcanism
Group 40—Structural
Geology
Group 41—Economic
Geology
The American Petroleum Industry sponsored exhibits related
to oil which included large replicas of oil drilling rigs. There was also
a large diorama of Pennsylvania coal mining in this group.
Group 42—Earth
Sciences as Exemplified in the National Parks
Group 43—Results
of Three State Surveys
Group 44—Historical
Geology
MEDICAL SCIENCE
The "Transparent Man" was the highlight of the medical exhibits.
This was a lifesize model of the human body made of a transparent material
called cellon which allowed the observer to view internal organs.
EXHIBITS FROM THE GOVERNMENTS
OF ITALY AND DENMARK
These exhibits were given to the Rosenwald Museum of Science and Industry
and loaned to the Exposition. The Italian exhibits were in three
groups: Engineering, Inventions, and Marine Engineering. Danish exhibits
illustrated that country's contributions
in Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geology, and Medicine.
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