Credit: ©The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.11570

    Whirling arm and gun mount

    Date
    ca.1746
    Creator
    Benjamin Robins (1707 - 1751, British) , Mathematician
    Object type
    Archive reference number
    Material
    Dimensions
    height (drawing): 296mm
    width (drawing): 186mm
    Subject
    Content object
    Description
    Detail drawings of the drum and weight for the whirling arm, a machine for conducting experiments in aerodynamics and drag [‘resistance of the air’]. With a mount apparatus, possibly for rifle experiments.

    The whirling arm’s drum was spun rapidly by a falling weight which in turn revolved an arm (of 4 feet in length) attached to the conical head of the device. Bodies for testing were attached to this and achieved speeds of several feet per second for brief periods.

    Benjamin Robins (1707-1751) British mathematician and military engineer was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1727.

    Associated place
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