Glass (5 Parts)

Synopsis

Part 1: The nature of glass, how it is made and shaped into a vast range of designs - from primitive beads to rococo Venetian glass. The way the first crude glass was formed and how this same underlying principle still governs the manufacture of synthetic glass today - a process unchanged since glassmaking began over 4000 years ago.
Part 2: Window glass and why it is transparent. Though cold at night greenhouses become very hot in sunlight, and yet it is impossible to become suntanned within. Causes of the ‘greenhouse effect’ and its implications for domestic and skyscraper architecture. The application of light-sensitive glass, which darkens in bright sunshine.
Part 3: Glass is easily coloured by the addition of metals at the molten stage. Shows examples of the works of art produced in this way over the centuries - Egyptian striped pots, mosaics, stained-glass windows. Looks at the revival of the art of coloured glassware.
Part 4: Like water, glass has a prismatic effect on light, dividing it into all the colours of the rainbow. Explores the history and development of optical glass, and shows applications ranging from astronomy and microscopy to modern-day fibre-optics for use in surgery and communications.
Part 5: Bullet-proof windscreens, ovenware, and heat-shielding ceramic tiles for space shuttles all exploit the innate strength of glass. Yet glass can become very fragile and easily shatter. Explains the reasons for this paradox. Discusses new applications in glass technology, and some unsolved mysteries of glass in the animal kingdom.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video; Videocassette. Standard formats. col. 5 x 25 min.

Year of production

1986

Availability

Sale

Notes

Parts are available separately.

Uses

Undergraduates, general audiences.*

Subjects

Technology

Keywords

colour; glass; light; materials science

Credits

Producer

John Alexander; Paul Simons

Sections

Title

Shaping glass

Synopsis

Part 1: The nature of glass, how it is made and shaped into a vast range of designs - from primitive beads to rococo Venetian glass. The way the first crude glass was formed and how this same underlying principle still governs the manufacture of synthetic

Title

Transparency

Synopsis

Part 2: Window glass and why it is transparent. Though cold at night greenhouses become very hot in sunlight, and yet it is impossible to become suntanned within. Causes of the 'greenhouse effect' and its implications for domestic and skyscraper architect

Title

Colour 1

Synopsis

Part 3: Glass is easily coloured by the addition of metals at the molten stage. Shows examples of the works of art produced in this way over the centuries - Egyptian striped pots, mosaics, stained-glass windows. Looks at the revival of the art of coloured

Title

Bending light

Synopsis

Part 4: Like water, glass has a prismatic effect on light, dividing it into all the colours of the rainbow. Explores the history and development of optical glass, and shows applications ranging from astronomy and microscopy to modern-day fibre-optics for

Title

Strength

Synopsis

Part 5: Bullet-proof windscreens, ovenware, and heat-shielding ceramic tiles for space shuttles all exploit the innate strength of glass. Yet glass can become very fragile and easily shatter. Explains the reasons for this paradox. Discusses new applicatio

Production Company

Name

BBC Television

Distributor

Name

BBC Active Video for Learning - now BBC Learning

Contact

Carolina Fernandez Jeremy Wilcox (CF - for educational enquiries JW - channel sales manager)

Email

BBCStudiosLearning@bbc.com

Web

https://www.bbcstudioslearning.com/ External site opens in new window

Phone

+44 (0) 20 8433 1009

Address

BBC Studios Limited
Television Centre
101 Wood Lane
London
W12 7FA
UK

Notes

The BBC Active company has now been absorbed within BBC Learning, a division of BBC Studios. It was originally a joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Pearson Education. Formerly known as ‘BBC Worldwide Learning Studies’ and before that as ‘Videos for Education & Training’