ABSTRACTS SAMENVATTINGEN
Johann Bernoulli-lezing 1999-2000
Groningen, 9 mei 2000
prof.dr. Ivor Grattan-Guinness
Daniel Bernoulli (1700-1782) and the varieties of mechanics in
the 18th century
RUG, 9 mei 2000, 19:30 uur
Aula van het Akademiegebouw
(Broerstraat 5)
Abstract
During the 18th century three main traditions in mechanics developed,
somewhat in competition over reliability and generality: the approach based
upon Newton's principle of inverses-square attraction and the three laws,
and stressing central forces; efforts to establish energy conservation, and its
interchange with work; and an algebraic style, using principles such as least
action, d'Alembert's, and virtual work. They played differing and often
competing roles across the range of mechanics: from astronomy to geodesy
through particle and rigid-body mechanics to hydrodynamics and engineering
mechanics.
Daniel Bernoulli lived through the bulk of these developments and
made significant contributions to several principles and topics. But his
overall place is hard to make precise, and he seems to be overshadowed by
contemporaries such as Euler and d'Alembert. Reasons for this state of
affairs will be sought; is the appraisal fair or unjust?
Voorafgaand aan de lezing zal Jan van Maanen een inleiding op het
werk van Grattan-Guinness houden. Na afloop van de lezing is er een
receptie.