Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Movement 504 -or- Ferguson's mechanical paradox

So the simulation of Movement 114 is only a little over half done, and I am thinking about what's next.

"designed to show a curious property of the epicyclic train. The Wheel, A, is fixed upon a stationary stud about which the arm, C,D, revolves. In this are are two pinions, M, N, upon which is fitted loosely a thick wheel, B, gearing with A, and upon the other are three loose wheels, E, F, G, all geared with B. When the arm, C, D, is turned round the the stud, motion is given to the three wheels, E, F, G, on their common axis, viz. the pin N; the three forming with the intermediate wheel, B, and the wheel, A, the distinct epicyclic trains. Suppose A to have twenty teeth, F twenty, E twenty-one, and G nineteen; as the arm, C, D, is turned around, F will appear not to turn on its axis, as any point in its circumference will always point in one direction, while E will appear to turn slowly in one and G in the other direction, which -an apparent paradox- gave rise to the name of the apparatus."

Still confused? Try here.

Wish me luck.

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