Grattan-Guinness, Ivor (2014) From anomaly to fundament: Louis Poinsotʼs theories of the couple in mechanics. Historia Mathematica, 41 (1). pp. 82-102. ISSN 0315-0860
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
In 1803 Louis Poinsot published a textbook on statics, in which he made clear that the subject dealt not only with forces but also with 'couples' (his word), pairs of coplanar non-collinear forces equal in magnitude and direction but opposite in sense. His innovation was not understood or even welcomed by some contemporary mathematicians. Later he adapted his theory to put forward a new relationship between rectilinear and rotational motion in dynamics; its reception was more positive, although not always appreciative of the generality. After summarising the creation of these two theories and noting their respective receptions, this paper considers his advocacy of spatial and geometrical thinking in mechanics and the fact that, despite its importance, historians of statics who cover his period usually ignore his theory of couples.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Official URL: | http://www.journals.elsevier.com/historia-mathemat... |
| Additional Information: | © 2013 Elsevier Inc |
| Divisions: | CPNSS |
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HA Statistics |
| Date Deposited: | 26 Nov 2013 12:46 |
| Last Modified: | 14 Sep 2024 06:22 |
| URI: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/54599 |
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