2007-04-30 09:04:33 · 14 answers · asked by Birdman 7 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
This is a bit of an open-ended pub-type question. It depends on how you assess complexity (number of active parts, or processes required to operate, or number of people needed to use it fully) and also whether you define an Instrument as a machine to carry out a particular sort of observation or perhaps a facility with many uses.
The big science projects like spacecraft, observatories and high energy physics labs ought to be on your shortlist.
Something like Hubble, although powerful and spectacular is not that complex. Because it was needed to be reliable and easy to use, the designers avoided too much complexity. Arguably it is a set of instruments (about five) on a common platform. The same goes for Cassini, SOHO, Cluster and so on – the instruments are largely independent. When GAIA and James Webb Space Telescope get built, these instruments will take space-borne science to a new level of complexity. Hopefully it will all be worth it for the results!
Ground-based observatories and their instruments are very complex, particularly the ones which rely on interferometry or adaptive optics for their performance. Not only big (and therefore mechanically complex) modern telescopes are smart - they simply wouldn't work without a lot of processing and outlandish optical theory.
The machines at CERN are very large, and have hundreds of related subsystems which must all work together, and you should have a look at these.
As a single instrument, a fusion research tokomak, like JET (Joint European Torus) in England, is pretty complex (just the vacuum system has thousands of subsystems, and the whole thing is bristling with many many probes and instruments to measure the plasma inside).
I hope this gives you some ideas for research, and you can make your own mind up. There's not an easy answer!
2007-04-30 20:45:57 · answer #1 · answered by drift::words 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, there are a few that come to mind... But all things considered, and if you take into consideration when it was invented... My money is on the Antikythera Device. It was discovered in 1900 by a sponge diver... It took scientists years to figure out what it was or how it worked.... Turns out it was an analog computer, that had over 70 bronze gears, and was unbelievably complex... And was invented over 2000 years ago, I think about 150 BC
2007-04-30 16:51:39 · answer #2 · answered by jonbjammin 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think i'll bet on the particle accelerators or the atom force microscope (which is able to feel atoms like a sort of very sensitive record player) even though space thingies are pretty complex and technological but I don't consider them as instruments they are just probes or detectors!
2007-04-30 10:20:46 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
One of the most powerful scientific instruments ever made was carried to Saturn by Cassini was the Huygens probe, which itself carried half a dozen sensitive instruments to study the atmosphere and surface of Saturn's giant moon Titan
Huygens scientific instruments were:
Aerosol Collector and Pyrolyser collected Titan's aerosols for chemical composition analysis
Descent Imager/Spectral Radiometer made spectral measurements and took pictures of Titan's surface and atmospheric hazes
Doppler Wind Experiment used radio signals to deduce wind speeds on Titan
Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer identified and quantified various atmospheric constituents of Titan
Huygens Atmospheric Structure Instrument measured the physical and electrical properties of the Titan atmosphere
Surface Science Package determined the physical properties of Titan's surface
Cassini instruments
2007-04-30 09:11:13 · answer #4 · answered by Hzl 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Intel Chip
2007-04-30 11:55:26 · answer #5 · answered by Pari M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The MRI machine, it actually takes pictures of the body in slices, and it put an end to exploratory surgery. If I remember correctly the two men that invented this went broke, and one of them committed suicide right before it was completed.
2007-04-30 19:11:49 · answer #6 · answered by gigi 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Can I be really trite and suggest the human brain? (I know that's no the intention of the question) but it can be an awesome instrument, and we have a desire to understand the way the world works.
Otherwise, probably particle accelerators.
2007-04-30 09:57:56 · answer #7 · answered by andy 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
There is a clear difference between asking a legitimate question and the RANTING that you do. it is disrespectful and you do a disservice to the forum members. GET A LIFE
2016-04-01 02:31:34 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The internet.
2007-04-30 16:14:39 · answer #9 · answered by Dr. R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The highly sophisticated cylindrical vaccuming device (a straw)
2007-04-30 09:12:19 · answer #10 · answered by findmenowniallhaha 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋