The most important experiments of Heinrich Hertz

The most important Experiments and their Publication between 1886 and 1889.

1886

10/04

Experiments on the induction associated with the discharge of a Leyden jar

10/25

Initial experiments with the spark micrometer

11/01

Experiments with sparks produced on the discharge of a Rühmkorff coil

11/13

Successful experiment on induction between two open circuits at a distance of 1.5 m from each other

12/02

Detection of resonance phenomena between two electric oscillations

12/03

Observation of oscillation nodes

12/05

Letter to Helmholtz in which Hertz reports on his successful experiments

12/09

Initial experiments on the induction effect of dielectrics (with paraffin)

1887

01/21

Quantitative experiments on electric resonance

01/25

Observation of the effect of light on the discharge sparks

01/27

Experiments with electric light

02/24

Further experiments on the effect of light

03/23

Hertz sends off the paper "On very rapid oscillations" to the Annalen der Physik und Chemie

04/18

Experiments on the reciprocal effects of discharge sparks

04/22

Investigation of the passage of light through liquids, gases and a vacuum

05/03

Experiments on deflection in prisms and on rectilinear propagation

05/05

Experiments on the effects of various types of light

05/09

Experiment on the effect of light on the discharge of electrostatically charged bodies

05/12

Experiments relating to the photographing of the ultraviolet spectrum and its absorption

05/27

Hertz sends off the paper "On an effect of ultra-violet light upon the electrical discharge" to the Annalen der Physik und Chemie

05/31

Hertz writes a shortened version for the reports of the meetings of the Berlin Academy of Sciences

06/20

Experiments on birefringence

06/30

Experiments on the effect of light on liquid electrodes and spark discharges

07/07

Letter to his father in which Hertz reports on his experiments on the effect of ultraviolet light on electric discharges

07/18

Experiments with discharge sparks

09/07

Resumption of experiments on rapid electric oscillations

09/16

On discovering disturbances which affect the experiments Hertz moves into the auditorium

09/19

Experiments on the relative position of the electric circuits

09/25

Completion of a drawing, presumably related to the paper "On the action of a rectilinear electric oscillation upon a neighbouring circuit" for the Annalen der Physik und Chemie

10/05

Experiments on the influence of dielectrics with books (paper) and asphalt

10/12

Experiments on phase differences

10/14

Experiments with apparatus of smaller dimensions and with books as dielectric

10/20

Experiments with a block of sulphur

10/21

Experiments with petroleum

10/31

Experiments with paraffin and a block of pitch/ Termination of these experiments for the time being

11/05

Hertz sends off the paper "On electromagnetic effects produced by electric disturbances in insulators" to Helmholtz

11/07

Discovery of standing electric oscillations in rectilinear wires

11/08

Experiments with various kinds of wire

11/10

Experiments on interference between waves in air and waves in wires

11/12

Experiments on the velocity of propagation

12/08

Letter to Helmholtz in which Hertz reports on his latest successful experiments

12/17

Further experiments on interference

12/22

Experiments on phase in wire and on the velocity of propagation

12/26

Confirmation of the finite velocity of propagation

12/29

Experiments on the shadowing effects of sheet metal and on reflection from walls

1888

01/01

Letter to his parents in which Hertz reports on his experiments on the velocity of propagation

01/21

Hertz sends off the paper "On the finite velocity of propagation of electromagnetic actions" to Helmholtz

03/01

Initial experiments with a smaller circular resonator and a microscope to observe the sparks of the discharge

03/05

Experiments on the formation of shadows by electromagnetic rays

03/10

Experiments with a large concave mirror

03/12

Standing waves are obtained for the first time during experiments in the auditorium

03/15

Experiments with plane mirrors

03/19

Letter to Helmholtz in which Hertz reports on reflection and on standing waves

03/24

Experiments with rectilinear secondary conductor

03/31

A copy is made of the paper "On electromagnetic waves in air and their reflection" and presumbly sent off to the Annalen der Physik und Chemie

04/16

Experiments on the propagation of waves in rectilinear wires

04/17

Experiments with spirals

04/20

Experiments with broad strips of metal in order to determine the depth of penetration of the waves

04/27

Experiments with an "electromagnetic bird-cage"

05/02

Experiments to determine the thickness of the layer carrying the waves

05/09

Experiments on propagation in spirals

05/11

Experiments with wire with serrations

05/17

Experiments with metal tubes

06/08

Experiments with electrolytes

10/09

Experiments on the penetration of conductors by the electric field

10/13

Experiments on the penetration into the interior of closed hollow spaces

10/14

Preparatory work on the paper "The forces of electric oscillations, treated according to Maxwell's theory" for the Annalen der Physik und Chemie

10/17

Completion of drawings for the paper ("Hertzian Dipole")

11/12

Experiments with small resonators; discovery of short waves in wires

11/15

Discovery of short waves in space

11/22

Experiments with a parabolic concave mirror

11/24

Initial experiments with two concave mirrors

11/29

Experiments moved to the storage rooms

11/30

Experiments on rectilinear propagation and on reflection; letter to Helmholtz in which Hertz reports on his latest experiments

12/01

Experiments on reflection and polarization

12/02

Unsuccessful experiment on diffraction

12/07

Experiments on diffraction with a prism of pitch

12/09

Work on the paper "On electric radiation", which is sent to Helmholtz before Dec 12th