Diagram
Date
23 May 1666
Creator
Unknown, Artist
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p291
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 326mm
width (page): 203mm
width (page): 203mm
Subject
Description
Diagram in Robert Hooke's paper on the inflection of a direct motion into a curve by a supervening attractive principle. Hooke sought to explain why planets moved in curved or elliptical orbits. One of his hypotheses was that the curved motion came from the attractive property of a body at the centre. In this paper, Hooke attempts to explain this hypothesis through a series of experiments using a pendulum. It was read at a meeting of the Royal Society on 23 May 1666.
This image is from a partial copy of the Register Book now among the Boyle papers. It is copied from the image at RBO/3/115. Other versions can be found at Cl.P/20/41/007 and RBC/2/244.
This image is from a partial copy of the Register Book now among the Boyle papers. It is copied from the image at RBO/3/115. Other versions can be found at Cl.P/20/41/007 and RBC/2/244.
Object history
At the meeting of the Royal Society on 23 May 1666, ‘A paper of Mr. Hooke concerning the inflection of a direct motion into a curve by a supervening attractive principle was read, and order’d to be registered’ (Birch 2:90). The text and reference to the figure, but not the figure itself, are printed in Birch 2:91-92.
Related fellows
Robert Boyle (1627 - 1691, British) , Natural philosopher
Robert Hooke (1635 - 1703, British) , Natural philosopher
Robert Hooke (1635 - 1703, British) , Natural philosopher
Associated place