Category Archives: Newton

Section Properties from Layers

Posted on 19/03/2008 by dougaj4

An alternative to finding the section properties of irregular polygons from the coordinates of the corners is to divide the shape into rectangular or trapezoidal layers.  The properties of the shape may then be found by simply summing the properties … Continue reading →

Posted in Maths, Newton, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Section Properties from Coordinates

Posted on 09/03/2008 by dougaj4

The area of irregular closed polygons defined by coordinates may be conveniently calculated by summing the areas of adjacent trapeziums, as shown below.   The area of each trapezium is calculated from the X axis.  Note that with the apex coordinates … Continue reading →

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Alice Through the Looking Glass, or How to Shake Hands With an Alien

Posted on 01/03/2008 by dougaj4

An interesting article on the handedness of amino acids: Mirror, Mirror « Girl Meets Science and a somewhat tenuously linked discussion about how to describe left/right to an alien: http://www2b.abc.net.au/science/k2/stn/newposts/3400/topic3400503.shtm

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Theme Music?

Posted on 29/02/2008 by dougaj4

Galaxy Dynamics by John Dubinski  “… Gravitas points clearly at ties between the ideas of Isaac Newton and the music of Bach. To do this with sounds and images that appeal to club kids and new music fans equally is … Continue reading →

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The history of the theory of beam bending – Part 1

Posted on 27/02/2008 by dougaj4

The theory of the flexural strength and stiffness of beams is now attributed to Bernoulli and Euler, but developed over almost 400 years, with several twists, turns and dead ends on the way. Galileo Galilei is often credited with the first … Continue reading →

Posted in Beam Bending, Newton | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments