Diagram on the pendulum
Date
22 January 1662
Creator
Unknown, Artist
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p160
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 365mm
width (page): 231mm
width (page): 231mm
Subject
Description
Diagram from William Brouncker’s paper (Cl.P/1/15) proving that the curve of isochronous descent is a cycloid (proved earlier by Huygens by other means), and that the centre of curvature of every point of the cycloid (evolute) is a cycloid. The paper was read at the meeting of the Royal Society on 22 January 1662 and sent on to Christian Huygens.
This diagram is no longer kept in Cl.P/1/15, but occurs in all of its subsequent copies. This particular one is copied from RBO/1/156. Another copy can be found at MS/776/146. There is an erroneous attempt at this diagram at Cl.P/1/11/009.
This diagram is no longer kept in Cl.P/1/15, but occurs in all of its subsequent copies. This particular one is copied from RBO/1/156. Another copy can be found at MS/776/146. There is an erroneous attempt at this diagram at Cl.P/1/11/009.
Object history
At the meeting of the Royal Society on 22 January 1662, ‘The pendulum experiment was discoursed of by the lord viscount Brouncker, who brought in the account and schemes of it; and a committee was appointed for making trials of it, consisting of his lordship himself, Mr. Boyle, Sir William Petty, Dr. Wilkins, and Dr. Wren. His lordship’s paper was ordered to be registered, and a copy of it made against the Friday following, and brought to Sir Robert Moray, to be sent to Mons. Huygens’ (Birch 1:70). The entire paper is printed in Birch 1:70-74.
Related fellows
William Brouncker, 2nd Viscount Brouncker of Lyons (1620 - 1684, British) , Mathematician
Associated place