Synopsis
The National Physical Laboratory at Teddington was founded in 1900 and is a model for many other National Laboratories. This book details the work of the Laboratory and reflects the development of science in British society up to 1980. The book is structured in four parts, with appendices and an index. It begins by examining the historical context, following the thread of history from 1651 to 1896 and leading into a discussion of 19th-century science. It describes the foundation of the National Physical Laboratory in 1900, its development of a role during the years up to 1908 and its years of expansion, from 1909 to 1914. Part One ends with a portrayal of the Laboratory during the years of World War I. Part Two concentrates, mainly, on the Laboratory between the wars, detailing its work in the departments of physics, electricity, radio, metrology, engineering and metallurgy. This section also discusses the Laboratory's role in ship research. It goes on to examine the history of the Laboratory during the years of World War II. The final part examines the post-war period, and discusses electronics, computers and mathematics; metrology, standards and quanta; electricity and electromagnetics; light and optical applications; engineering, physics and radiation science; fluid flow and materials science. It concludes with a portrayal of the Laboratory in the 1990s and its possible role in the future. The book should be of interest to anyone concerned with the methods of science and its benefits, including all students and teachers of science. It should also be useful to those with an academic interest as it shows how science can break out into the wider world of engineering and industry.
