CHAPTER 2 - From the History of Statics

Summary

Mechanics is the study of the action of forces on bodies. That part in which the bodies are at rest and, consequently, the forces are in equilibrium, is called statics in contrast to the other part, dynamics, in which the forces are not in equilibrium and, consequently, the bodies not at rest. Here we shall be concerned with the simpler and firstdeveloped branch, statics, which is conveniently introduced by consideration of the contributions of Stevinus and Archimedes. Although the first real achievements are due to Archimedes and preceded Stevinus' by many centuries, I prefer to discuss the latter first.

STEVINUS AND ARCHIMEDES

Stevinus, a Dutchman, lived in the 16th Century, contemporary with Descartes, a century or so before Newton, Leibniz, and the invention of the differential calculus. He was a brilliant applied mathematician who was fascinated by the usefulness of mathematics: for Stevinus, mathematics to be good had to be good for something. He was one of the first to use decimal fractions and showed their usefulness for everyday affairs, he invented the first horseless carriage, and he constructed dykes, which still serve Holland to this day. His achievements are commemorated by his statue in his native city, Brügge. If you ever go there, look him up. Meanwhile we shall consider his derivation of the Law of the Inclined Plane.

Inclined Plane

Even crude, casual, unavoidable everyday experience presents the curious with questions. Indeed, the simpler the experience the more difficult to avoid meeting pertinent questions head-on.