Mathematical Magick

Mathematical Magick ( with the full title Mathematical Magick, or, The wonders did june by Performed By mechanichal geometry: in two books, Concerning mechanical powers [ and] motions Being one of the most easie, pleasant, useful ( and yet most neglected ). part of Mathematicks. distress before Treated of in this language. ) is a work by the English theologian and scientist John Wilkins, the first published in 1648 in London and among other things, Was reissued in 1680.

The work is dedicated to His Highness the Prince Elector Palatine ( Palatine Charles I Louis, Count Palatine of the Rhine and Elector ). It is written for today's readers in easily understandable English, with the numerous Latin quotations are translated all. It is divided into two books with the titles Archimedes ( because Archimedes was the greatest discoverer of mechanical forces ) and Daedalus (because Daedalus is the first and most important manufacturer of Automata, self-moving machines have been ). In the first book the principles of mechanics are presented and explained in the second book technical achievements are discussed, which would certainly be possible in certain research and adequate attempts.

First Book

In the first book mechanical objects and forces applied to them are discussed in 20 chapters, including the scale, the lever, the wheel, the pulley and the pulley, the wedge and the screw. There are also the effects of these forces in the human limbs shown and examined the Archimedes attributed phrase " Give me a point on which I can stand and I will move the earth off its hinges ." The effect of repeatedly coupled gear ratios is examined as well as the importance of different speeds. Siege engines such as skidding, catapults and arrow battery are presented and the effect and costs compared with contemporary firearms. Finally, Wilkins proves that speeds theoretically generated by people must be possible that are larger than the speed of rotation of the earth measured at the equator.

Second book

Different devices

In the second book are initially diverse, automatically examines moving objects such as clocks, wind, water and saw mills. It will then be explained also devices that are driven by the draft in chimneys or by artificially generated overpressure. A two-masted sailing carriage is restricted to a vehicle with a vertical wind turbine. It is reported by variety, self-moving figures of men and animals. The improvement of a submarine is discussed with reference to the dive boat by Cornelis Drebbel Jacobszoon. Doubts about the tales of various small aircraft are reproduced and rejected. Also, the flight of a human would be possible if we build a framework in which the person could sit, and the frame anschiebe enough.

Fly

In Chapter VII, different methods will be discussed how they could fly, is namely known by means of good or evil angels, as will described several times in the Bible or of wizards and witches, or with the help of birds, or by means of suitable wings that move the man himself. In the introductory section it is mentioned rather casually that there were traditions of an English monk named Elmerus, who had flown in this manner about 200 meters far from the Tower of London down, and by one who from the tower of St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, and from a another who had flown in Nuremberg, and a Turk in Constantinople Opel 've tried like. For the sake of truth but must be said that all of these artists were crashed and arms and legs were broken. But with enough practice could such a flight is quite possible. The most sensible but is probably a kind of flying vehicle that was large enough to accommodate several people who could share the work of the movement of the wings, or in which one could install an engine when you could build a small but powerful machine. With a mention of the attempts by the Archimedes water displacement Wilkins combines the indication that these thoughts can lead to a whole new science about the viability of air. The start is the hardest part when the apparatus has only reached a certain height, gravity take so low that he could as the big birds fly almost by itself. With sufficient height it was even possible to fly to any place in the world, regardless of bad roads and weather conditions.

Perpetual motion machine

From Chapter IX of the possibilities of various forms of a perpetual motion and discussed in detail by continuously lighted lamps.

Fausto Veranzios parachute

The plant is mentioned in any way Fausto Veranzio, who in his Machinae Novae (ca. 1615) had published the engraving of hanging on a parachute homo volans (flying man ). The plant Mathematical Magick also deals in any way with the parachute or similar devices or even skydiving. John Wilkins ' considerations revolve around that flying should be possible. Braked jumps of towers are not his subject and are not mentioned in his work, not even touched on the edge.

In parachutists circles is often argued in numerous publications, Veranzio had jumped in 1617 at the age of 65 years with his parachute from the Campanile di San Marco in Venice, according to other data from the Tower of St. Martin in Bratislava. Therefore Veranzio is generally regarded as the first parachutist. As evidence of this is regularly given the Mathematical Magick by John Wilkins.

As can be seen from the above presentation of this paper, these allegations are completely unfounded. Neither Faustus Veranzio still a parachute jump occur in the Mathematical Magick.

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