Cork Lab
View a prepared slide of cork under scanner and
low power.
Sketch what you see & record the total
magnification.
Answer the following questions in complete
sentences.
What do think the tiny shapes represent?
Why do you think some of the shapes are colored and
others are not?
Robert Hooke
The English Father of Microscopy
Early Life
Born July 18, 1635
Place of Birth – Isle of Wright, England
His father worked for the church and Robert
was expected to do the same.
He was very sickly as a child, so the church
was not an option.
Early Education
Suffered from Headaches which made study
difficult.
His parents did not expect him to live long,
so they gave up on his education.
From the age of 10, Robert Hooke was left
to his own devices.
Personal Interests
Designed & Built Things
Clock
Ship
Demonstrated Artistic
Talents
Formal Education
Apprenticed to a
painter
Westminster School
Latin & Greek
Geometry
Music
Oxford
Astronomy, physics, &
chemistry
Career
Professor of Geometry at
Gresham College
City Surveyor after the
Great Fire of 1666
Curator of Experiments
for the Royal Society
Inventor & Researcher
Inventor
Modern Air Pump
Flying Machines
Conical Pendulum
Helioscope
Reflecting Telescope
Wheel Barometer
Spring Control
Universal Joint
Compound Microscope
Scientist
Hooke’s Law, or the General Law of Elasticity, states
that the extension of a spring is proportional to the
weight placed on the spring.
Discovered that Jupiter revolves on its axis.
Made drawings of Mars that allowed other scientists
to determine its rotation period.
Observed and asked important questions about
comets.
Came up with a theory explaining planetary motion,
but he lacked the mathematical ability to prove his
ideas.
Micrographia
“Micrographia [is] one of the
masterpieces of seventeenth
century science… [It] presented
not a systematic investigation of
any one question, but a bouquet
of observations with courses
from the mineral, animal, and
vegetable kingdoms. Above all,
the book suggested what a
microscope could do for
biological science.” - Westfall
Observations
With the help of his
compound microscope,
Hooke observed…
Feathers
Microorganisms
Insects
…and recorded his
observations in his
published work.
Cells
Coined the term “cell” in a
biological context.
Believed that “cells” only
existed in plants since he
had only observed them in
plant material.
Why do you think Hooke
only saw “cells” in plants?
What structure was he
seeing?
Monastery Cells
Later in Life
Hooke’s health began to
deteriorate in 1696.
Died on March 3, 1703.
A stained glass window &
a museum at the St.
Helen’s Bishopgate
Church served as a
memorial to Robert
Hooke.
The End
Assignment
You live in the 17th century and are friends with
Robert Hooke. One day, Hooke comes to you and
claims that other scientists are stealing his
scientific theories. He is very upset and is
depressed because other people are receiving
recognition for his original ideas. He tells you that
he feels like a failure and that he has wasted his
life.
Write a letter to Hooke that would make him feel
better. Discuss his accomplishments & help him
see the contributions of others in a more positive
light.