Object Details
- Baker, Richard P.
- Description
- This model was made by Richard P. Baker in the early twentieth century when he was on the faculty in mathematics at the University of Iowa. Baker believed that models were essential for the teaching of many parts of mathematics and physics, and over 100 of his models are in the museum collections.
- The object has a rectangular wooden base, white on top and black on the sides. Red lines are drawn on the base. A wire structure is bolted to it in three spots. Four wires have directional arrows. A mark on the object reads: No. 233 (/) Screw motion. Thompson and (/) Tait.
- The motion of a screw is a combination of a circular motion (suggested by the red circle with an arrow on it) and a linear motion (suggested by the straight black wire with an arrow on it pointing into the base). The British mathematical physicists William Thomson and Peter Guthrie Tait explored the motion of screws in their Treatise on Natural Philosophy, first published in 1867, although no figure that corresponds precisely to this model has been located.
- In his 1931 catalog, Baker listed this model in the section on “Mechanics & Theory of Screws.” The names of those associated who inspired the model are spelled Thomson and Tait.
- References:
- Baker, R.P., Mathematical Models, Iowa City, 1931, p. 15.
- Thomson, W. and P.G. Tait, Treatise on Natural Philosophy, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1867. This volume was later revised and published as Elements of Natural Philosophy.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- Gift of Frances E. Baker
- ca 1906-1935
- ID Number
- MA.211257.040
- accession number
- 211257
- catalog number
- 211257.040
- Object Name
- geometric model
- Physical Description
- wood (overall material)
- metal (overall material)
- white (overall color)
- yellow (overall color)
- red (overall color)
- green (overall color)
- soldered (overall production method/technique)
- Measurements
- average spatial: 17.5 cm x 27.8 cm x 17.9 cm; 6 7/8 in x 10 15/16 in x 7 1/16 in
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Mathematics
- Science & Mathematics
- National Museum of American History
- Subject
- Mathematics
- Record ID
- nmah_1081893
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a9-3aaa-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
