Diagram regarding the properties of a cycloid
Date
10 February 1662
Creator
Christiaan Huygens (1629 - 2006, Dutch) , Natural philosopher
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p1
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 199mm
width (page): 153mm
width (page): 153mm
Subject
Description
The meeting of the Royal Society on 22 January 1662 discussed William Brouncker’s paper (Cl.P/1/15) proving that the curve of isochronous descent is a cycloid, which had been proven earlier by Christaan Huygens by other means. A copy of the paper was forwarded to Huygens by Robert Moray in a letter dated 3 February 1662. In his reply to Moray, in this letter dated 10 February, Huygens pointed out problems in part of Brouncker's diagram.
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).
At the meeting of the Royal Society on 12 March 1662, ‘It was ordered, that the amanuensis make three copies of the equation of days, sent by Monsieur Huygens to Sir Robert Moray, and translate them as soon as possible’ (Birch 1:78).
At the meeting of the Royal Society on 12 March 1662, ‘It was ordered, that the amanuensis make three copies of the equation of days, sent by Monsieur Huygens to Sir Robert Moray, and translate them as soon as possible’ (Birch 1:78).
Related fellows
Christiaan Huygens (1629 - 2006, Dutch) , Natural philosopher
Robert Moray (1608 - 1673, British) , Natural philosopher
William Brouncker, 2nd Viscount Brouncker of Lyons (1620 - 1684, British) , Mathematician
Robert Moray (1608 - 1673, British) , Natural philosopher
William Brouncker, 2nd Viscount Brouncker of Lyons (1620 - 1684, British) , Mathematician
Associated place