Christiaan Huygens : a foreign inventor in the Court of Louis XIV : his role as a forerunner of mechanical engineering
The aim of this thesis has been to argue, on the basis of primary sources, that Huygens was a pioneer in the field of mechanical engineering. He fits the definition of a mechanical engineer as somebody who develops a novel invention either empirically or theoretically, using known mechanical theories. In the same way, a new invention may come about through transforming an existing machine or instrument thus revolutionizing any future versions of it. Huygens did both he applied a pendulum to existing clocks and transformed the making of precision instruments from that moment onwards. The first chapter of the thesis presents Huygens' works on pendulum clocks and marine clocks. The second chapter is dedicated to Huygens' research and designs of the air pump and linking with the third chapter on matter theory. The fourth chapter focuses on Huygens' designs of various instruments (the telescope, the microscope, the level, the planetarium and others). The final chapter depicts Huygens in the societies in which he lived. Huygens was a pioneer of mechanical engineering because he presented a complete work on mechanics to explain instruments, 'automata', by mathematical axioms and laws. Furthermore, he developed a
Marconell, Maria Helena
Pendulum clocks; Scientific instruments
Christiaan Huygens : a foreign inventor in the Court of Louis XIV : his role as a forerunner of mechanical engineering. The aim of this thesis has been to argue, on the basis of primary sources, that Huygens was a pioneer in the field of mechanical engineering. He fits the definition of a mechanical engineer as somebody who develops a novel invention either empirically or theoretically, using known mechanical theories. In the same way, a new invention may come about through transforming an existing machine or instrument thus revolutionizing any future versions of it. Huygens did both he applied a pendulum to existing clocks and transformed the making of precision instruments from that moment onwards. The first chapter of the thesis presents Huygens' works on pendulum clocks and marine clocks. The second chapter is dedicated to Huygens' research and designs of the air pump and linking with the third chapter on matter theory. The fourth chapter focuses on Huygens' designs of various instruments (the telescope, the microscope, the level, the planetarium and others). The final chapter depicts Huygens in the societies in which he lived. Huygens was a pioneer of mechanical engineering because he presented a complete work on mechanics to explain instruments, 'automata', by mathematical axioms and laws. Furthermore, he developed a
foreign inventor court louis_xiv role forerunner mechanical engineering aim argue basis primary_source pioneer field mechanical engineering fit definition mechanical engineer develop_novel invention either empirically theoretically use know mechanical theory way new invention may come transform exist machine instrument thus future version apply exist clock transform make precision instrument moment onwards first_present work clock marine clock second dedicate design air link third matter theory fourth focus design various instrument microscope level others final depicts society_live pioneer mechanical engineering present complete work mechanic explain instrument mathematical axiom law furthermore develop