Horologium Oscillatorium

Illustration of Huygens' 1673 experimental pendulum clock from Horologium Oscillatorium. Huygens placed cycloidal-shaped metal "cheeks" on either side of the pendulum string, to force the pendulum to move in a cycloidal path, to increase accuracy.

Horologium Oscillatorium: sive de motu pendulorum ad horologia aptato demostrationes geometricae (Latin: The Pendulum Clock: or geometrical demonstrations concerning the motion of pendula as applied to clocks),[1] often abbreviated Horologium Oscillatorium, is a book published by Christiaan Huygens in 1673; it is his major work on pendulums and horology.[2] This work is regarded as one of the three most important work done in mechanics in the 17th century, the other two being Galileo Galilei’s Discourses and Mathematical Demonstrations Relating to Two New Sciences (1638) and Isaac Newton’s Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica (1687).[3]

This work contains descriptions of clock designs, analysis of pendulum motion, and a theory of curves. Huygens re-derived Galileo's original study on falling bodies based on clearer logical framework,[4] obtained the solution to the tautochrone problem as given by a cycloid curve and not a circle as Galileo had conceived,[5] and outlined a theory of evolutes and rectification of curves. Huygens also obtained solutions to dynamical problems such as the period of an oscillating simple pendulum as well as a compound pendulum, center of oscillation and its interchangeability with the pivot point,[6] the laws of centrifugal force for uniform circular motion, and the concept of moment of inertia.[7]

Levy & Wallach-Levy (2001) write that, as well as being known for its science, the book is also known for its strangely worded dedication to Louis XIV.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Huygens, Christiaan; Blackwell,, Richard J., trans. (1986). Horologium Oscillatorium (The Pendulum Clock, or Geometrical demonstrations concerning the motion of pendula as applied to clocks). Ames, Iowa: Iowa State University Press. ISBN 0813809339.
  2. ↑ Herivel, John. "Christiaan Huygens". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  3. ↑ Bell, A. E. (30 Aug 1941). "The Horologium Oscillatorium of Christian Huygens". doi:10.1038/148245a0. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  4. ↑ Ducheyne, Steffen (2008). "Galileo and Huygens on free fall: Mathematical and methodological differences". Dynamis : Acta Hispanica ad Medicinae Scientiarumque. Historiam Illustrandam 28. pp. 243–274. ISSN 0211-9536. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  5. ↑ Mahoney, Michael S. (March 19, 2007). "Christian Huygens: The Measurement of Time and of Longitude at Sea". Princeton University. Archived from the original on 2007-12-04. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  6. ↑ Bevilaqua, Fabio; Lidia Falomo; Lucio Fregonese; Enrico Gianetto; Franco Giudise; Paolo Mascheretti (2005). "The pendulum: From constrained fall to the concept of potential". The Pendulum: Scientific, Historical, Philosophical, and Educational Perspectives. Springer. pp. 195–200. ISBN 1-4020-3525-X. Retrieved 2008-02-26. gives a detailed description of Huygen's methods
  7. ↑ Huygens, Christian (Aug 2013). "Horologium Oscillatorium (An English translation by Ian Bruce)". Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  8. ↑ Levy, David H.; Wallach-Levy, Wendee (2001), Cosmic Discoveries: The Wonders of Astronomy, Prometheus Books, ISBN 9781615925667.