Physical laboratory for students practical laboratory works of The Imperial Moscow University from the moment of foundation until 1917

Abstract

The present survey, timed to a century and a half anniversary of practical laboratory works in Physics being introduced in the curriculum of The Imperial University of Moscow for the students of the Faculty of Physics, provides a broad coverage of its functioning in the period from 1873 to 1917. The author gives a brief overview of the history of its founding, includes the data concerning the development of its equipment infrastructure, stuffing and figures about the number of students who took physics labs in those years. The contents of practical laboratory works are being analysed. The author vividly shows that professor A. P. Sokolov’s “Guide to exercises in general physics labs of Physical Institute of The Imperial University of Moscow” relies heavily on “Guide to Practical Classes in Physics” by F. Kohlrausch. The author familiarizes the readers with some historical references, which enable to better enhance the readers’ understanding of the details of practical training of physics students in The Imperial University of Moscow at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. The article also contains rare historical pictures, some of which are published for the first time.