In the age of computer technology, most of the calculations in the design of technology are fully automated, the engineers need only enter the required parameters through a convenient interface.
XX century was called in different ways.It was both atomic, and space, and informational. The aircraft designers improved the aircraft, and they turned from clumsy biplanes into fast-moving supersonic MiGs, Mirage and Phantoms. Giant aircraft carriers and submarines began to plow the seas and oceans at all latitudes. At Los Alamos (New Mexico), an atomic bomb was tested, and the first nuclear power plant began to produce energy in Obninsk near Moscow. The rocket shot up ...
Исторические хроники демонстрируют процесс работы over these achievements. Scientists and engineers in white coats, standing at the kulmans and sitting at tables littered with drawings, produce the most complex technical and scientific calculations on the calculators. Sometimes, in the hands of Tupolev, Kurchatov or Teller, there was suddenly a thing unfamiliar to the modern young man — the slide rule. Photos of those whose youth passed in the post-war decades, up to the 80s, also recorded this simple subject, which successfully replaced them with a calculator while studying at an institute or postgraduate school. Yes, and the dissertation was also considered on it, on darling.
The main principle of this woodenThe subject, neatly pasted over with celluloid white scales, is based on a logarithmic calculus, as the name implies. More precisely, on the decimal logarithm. After all, everyone who taught higher mathematics knows that their sum is equal to the logarithm of the work, and, therefore, correctly dividing into moving parts, it is possible to achieve that multiplication (and hence division), squaring (and extracting the root) will be a simple matter.
The ruler logarithmic became popular back inXIX century, when the main means for carrying out calculations were ordinary abacus. This invention is a real find for the then scientists and engineers. Not immediately, they all figured out how to use this device. In order to learn all the intricacies and reveal its capabilities to the full, the fans of the new calculating mechanism should have read the special allowances, which are quite extensive. But it was worth it.
However, the main virtue thathas a logarithmic ruler - its simplicity, and therefore reliability. Compared with other methods of calculation (there were no calculators yet), operations were performed much faster. But there are moments that should not be forgotten. Calculations can be made only with mantissas, that is, with a whole (up to nine) and a fractional part of the number, with an accuracy of two (three, who have very good vision) decimal places. The order of the numbers had to be kept in mind. There was another flaw. The logarithmic line, though small, is difficult to call it a handheld device - 30 centimeters after all.
However, the dimensions did not become a barrier for inquisitiveminds. For those who, by the nature of their activity, should always have a counting device with them, a compact logarithmic line was invented. A circular scale with arrows gave it a resemblance to a watch, and some models of expensive chronometers kept it on its dial. Of course, the capabilities of this device and its accuracy were somewhat inferior to the corresponding parameters of the classic ruler, but then it could always be carried in a pocket. Yes, and it looked more aesthetic!
