Historic instruments for the teaching of Physics: a chronology of the situation in Argentina

Abstract

The incorporation of scientific disciplines in Latin American educational curricula,especially in the experimental sciences, has been deeply influenced by the acquisition and useof scientific instruments. In particular the instruments destined to the teaching of physics havebeen key in the efforts aimed at teaching physics in a way different from that imposed byCatholic authorities, who were in charge of the education during the colonial period in the NewWorld. Until middle 19th century, physics was thought only as a speculative science andconsidered as a part of philosophy. Later, it was included as a preparatory study to enteruniversity courses, and at the turn of 20th century it was also oriented to form a critical mass ofyoung students required to carry out scientific research. It is the aim of this paper to report suchprocess in Argentina and to describe the context of each one of the main educational instituteswhere physics was taught. The background investigation for this chronology was oriented to findout what instruments were bought, as well as when and for what purposes they werepurchased. The present review is based on written historical records regarding the early didacticscientific instruments used in the country and refers, in particular, to the collection belonging tothe Physics Museum of La Plata National University.