Simon Stevin: Difference between revisions
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'''Simon Stevin''' (1548 – 1620) was a Flemish-Dutch engineer and mathematician, who was one the first to write rational numbers as decimal fractions (although he did not yet use the decimal point as place holder). He | '''Simon Stevin''' (1548 – 1620) was a Flemish-Dutch engineer and mathematician, who was one the first to write rational numbers as decimal fractions (although he did not yet use the decimal point as place holder). He was the first to decompose forces by using geometric drawings that are equivalent to what we now call "the parallelogram of forces" (see [[vector (mathematics)#Vector addition in the Euclidean plane|this article]]) and he did experiments—eighteen years before [[Galileo Galilei]]—that refuted Aristotle's law of free fall. That is, he found that heavy bodies do not fall faster than light ones.<ref>This is only strictly true in vacuum; when there is friction with air, lighter bodies experience theoretically a larger upward force than heavy bodies.</ref> One of Stevin's important talents was that he was good in both mathematical theory ''and'' engineering applications. | ||
==Life== | ==Life== | ||
Simon Stevin was born in [[Bruges]], one of the important cities of [[Flanders]], the [[Dutch]] speaking part of [[Belgium]]. He was a natural child of Antheunis Stevin and Cathelyne van der Poort. He worked as a merchant's bookkeeper in [[Antwerp]], the largest city in Flanders, and moved around 1580 to [[The Netherlands]], first to [[Middelburg]] and then in 1581 to [[Leiden]]. He was matriculated as a student in the [[University of Leiden]] on February 16th, 1583. Simon Stevin had four children. As to his marriage we only know of a notice of marriage with Catherina Cray at Leyden on April 10th 1616, when he was 68 years old (but Simon Stevin had children already before 1616). Stevin died in 1620; the exact date nor the place is known but he passed away between February 20th and April 8th and most probably in the Hague. | Simon Stevin was born in [[Bruges]], one of the important cities of [[Flanders]], the [[Dutch]] speaking part of [[Belgium]]. He was a natural child of Antheunis Stevin and Cathelyne van der Poort. He worked as a merchant's bookkeeper in [[Antwerp]], the largest city in Flanders, and later as financial clerk in the administration of the ''Vrije van Brugge'', the rural district surrounding Bruges. | ||
For unclear reasons he moved around 1580 to [[The Netherlands]], first to [[Middelburg]] and then in 1581 to [[Leiden]]. He was matriculated as a student in the [[University of Leiden]] on February 16th, 1583. Simon Stevin had four children. As to his marriage we only know of a notice of marriage with Catherina Cray at Leyden on April 10th 1616, when he was 68 years old (but Simon Stevin had children already before 1616). Stevin died in 1620; the exact date nor the place is known but he passed away between February 20th and April 8th and most probably in the Hague. | |||
{{Image|Stevin.jpg|right|250px|}} | {{Image|Stevin.jpg|right|250px|}} | ||
==Work== | ==Work== | ||
While still in | While still in Flanders, Stevin composed world's first table of interests ''Tafelen van Interest'' (1582). | ||
In 1585 he published a booklet, ''De Thiende'' [The Tenth], in which he presented an elementary account of decimal fractions and their daily use. His booklet starts with: | In 1585 he published a booklet, ''De Thiende'' [The Tenth], in which he presented an elementary account of decimal fractions and their daily use. His booklet starts with: | ||
| Line 13: | Line 16: | ||
<ref>''Translation:'' Simon Stevin wishes success to Stargazers, Surveyors, Carpet measurers, Whine measurers, Body measurers in particular, Mintmaster and all Tradesmen.</ref> | <ref>''Translation:'' Simon Stevin wishes success to Stargazers, Surveyors, Carpet measurers, Whine measurers, Body measurers in particular, Mintmaster and all Tradesmen.</ref> | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
making clear that he had very practical applications in mind with his new [[arithmetic]] | making clear that he had very practical applications in mind with his new [[arithmetic]] tool. | ||
Although he did not invent decimal fractions and his notation was rather unwieldy, he established their use in day-to-day mathematics. | Although he did not invent decimal fractions and his notation was rather unwieldy, he established their use in day-to-day mathematics. | ||
In 1586 he published ''De beghinselen der weeghconst'' [The principles of the art of weighing]. By ''weeghconst'' Stevin means the part of mechanics called [[statics]]. This field was founded by [[Archimedes]] and Stevin continued his theoretical work on the forces that keep solid bodies in their place. Stevin treats a solid body on a sloping plane and decomposes the gravitational force in a component perpendicular to the plane and one that keeps the body in rest on the slope; doing this he introduced the "the parallelogram of forces". In the same year Stevin published a report on his experiment, performed in [[Delft]] together with the father of [[Hugo Grotius]], in which two lead spheres, one 10 times as heavy as the other, were dropped from a church tower. After falling a distance of 30 feet, the balls landed on a wooden plank. The two observers heard one bang only and concluded that the two balls fell with equal speed. | In 1586 he published ''De beghinselen der weeghconst'' [The principles of the art of weighing]. By ''weeghconst'' Stevin means the part of mechanics that is called [[statics]]. This field was founded by [[Archimedes]] and Stevin continued his theoretical work on the forces that keep solid bodies in their place. Stevin treats a solid body on a sloping plane and decomposes the gravitational force in a component perpendicular to the plane and one that keeps the body in rest on the slope; doing this he introduced the "the parallelogram of forces". | ||
In the same year Stevin published a report on his experiment, performed in [[Delft]] together with the father of [[Hugo Grotius]], in which two lead spheres, one 10 times as heavy as the other, were dropped from a church tower. After falling a distance of 30 feet, the balls landed on a wooden plank. The two observers heard one bang only and concluded that the two balls fell with equal speed. Also at that time he applied for patents for several civil engineering inventions, such as improvements for windmills used for drainage. | |||
Around 1590 Stevin became consultant and tutor in mathematics and natural sciences of [[Maurice, Prince of Orange]], who had succeeded his father [[William the Silent]] as leader of the Dutch Revolt. Stevin instructed Maurice in various subjects and wrote teaching material for him that later was published in Wisconstighe Ghedachtenissen (1605-1608). He constructed his famous sailing-car for him that on the flat Dutch beach could cover the distance from [[Scheveningen]] to [[Petten]] (85 km) in two hours. A sustained speed of more than 40 km/h was incredible in those days. Also for Maurice he wrote ''Stercktenbouwing'' (1594) (the building of fortifications). | |||
Although Stevin, being [[Copernicus|Copernican]], met resistance from influential Calvinist theologians, he was asked to compose an instruction for a school of engineers as part of Leiden university. | |||
Stevin loved the Dutch language and was a purist. He invented many words that are still current in Dutch (a famous example is ''wiskunde''—literally the art of certainties—for mathematics). After | Stevin loved the Dutch language and was a purist. He invented many words that are still current in Dutch (a famous example is ''wiskunde''—literally the art of certainties—for mathematics). After 1594 he refused to write in any other language than Dutch, which gave him a lower international profile than a man of his talents deserved. | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
Revision as of 09:08, 6 January 2010
Simon Stevin (1548 – 1620) was a Flemish-Dutch engineer and mathematician, who was one the first to write rational numbers as decimal fractions (although he did not yet use the decimal point as place holder). He was the first to decompose forces by using geometric drawings that are equivalent to what we now call "the parallelogram of forces" (see this article) and he did experiments—eighteen years before Galileo Galilei—that refuted Aristotle's law of free fall. That is, he found that heavy bodies do not fall faster than light ones.[1] One of Stevin's important talents was that he was good in both mathematical theory and engineering applications.
Life
Simon Stevin was born in Bruges, one of the important cities of Flanders, the Dutch speaking part of Belgium. He was a natural child of Antheunis Stevin and Cathelyne van der Poort. He worked as a merchant's bookkeeper in Antwerp, the largest city in Flanders, and later as financial clerk in the administration of the Vrije van Brugge, the rural district surrounding Bruges.
For unclear reasons he moved around 1580 to The Netherlands, first to Middelburg and then in 1581 to Leiden. He was matriculated as a student in the University of Leiden on February 16th, 1583. Simon Stevin had four children. As to his marriage we only know of a notice of marriage with Catherina Cray at Leyden on April 10th 1616, when he was 68 years old (but Simon Stevin had children already before 1616). Stevin died in 1620; the exact date nor the place is known but he passed away between February 20th and April 8th and most probably in the Hague.
Work
While still in Flanders, Stevin composed world's first table of interests Tafelen van Interest (1582).
In 1585 he published a booklet, De Thiende [The Tenth], in which he presented an elementary account of decimal fractions and their daily use. His booklet starts with:
Den Sterrekyckers, Landt meters, Tapijtmeters, Wijnmeters, Lichaemmeters int ghemeene, Muntmeesters, ende allen Cooplieden, wenscht Simon Stevin Gheluck. [2]
making clear that he had very practical applications in mind with his new arithmetic tool. Although he did not invent decimal fractions and his notation was rather unwieldy, he established their use in day-to-day mathematics.
In 1586 he published De beghinselen der weeghconst [The principles of the art of weighing]. By weeghconst Stevin means the part of mechanics that is called statics. This field was founded by Archimedes and Stevin continued his theoretical work on the forces that keep solid bodies in their place. Stevin treats a solid body on a sloping plane and decomposes the gravitational force in a component perpendicular to the plane and one that keeps the body in rest on the slope; doing this he introduced the "the parallelogram of forces".
In the same year Stevin published a report on his experiment, performed in Delft together with the father of Hugo Grotius, in which two lead spheres, one 10 times as heavy as the other, were dropped from a church tower. After falling a distance of 30 feet, the balls landed on a wooden plank. The two observers heard one bang only and concluded that the two balls fell with equal speed. Also at that time he applied for patents for several civil engineering inventions, such as improvements for windmills used for drainage.
Around 1590 Stevin became consultant and tutor in mathematics and natural sciences of Maurice, Prince of Orange, who had succeeded his father William the Silent as leader of the Dutch Revolt. Stevin instructed Maurice in various subjects and wrote teaching material for him that later was published in Wisconstighe Ghedachtenissen (1605-1608). He constructed his famous sailing-car for him that on the flat Dutch beach could cover the distance from Scheveningen to Petten (85 km) in two hours. A sustained speed of more than 40 km/h was incredible in those days. Also for Maurice he wrote Stercktenbouwing (1594) (the building of fortifications).
Although Stevin, being Copernican, met resistance from influential Calvinist theologians, he was asked to compose an instruction for a school of engineers as part of Leiden university.
Stevin loved the Dutch language and was a purist. He invented many words that are still current in Dutch (a famous example is wiskunde—literally the art of certainties—for mathematics). After 1594 he refused to write in any other language than Dutch, which gave him a lower international profile than a man of his talents deserved.
Notes
- ↑ This is only strictly true in vacuum; when there is friction with air, lighter bodies experience theoretically a larger upward force than heavy bodies.
- ↑ Translation: Simon Stevin wishes success to Stargazers, Surveyors, Carpet measurers, Whine measurers, Body measurers in particular, Mintmaster and all Tradesmen.
Reference
E. J. Dijksterhuis, Simon Stevin, Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague (1943) (In Dutch)