About this Item
Matthew Stewart. Tracts, Physical and Mathematical. Containing, An Explication of several important points in Physical Astronomy; and, A new method of ascertaining the Sun's distance from the Earth, by the Theory of Gravity. By Dr Matthew Stewart, Professor of Mathematics in the University of Edinburgh. Printed for A. Millar, and J. Nourse, London, and W. Sands, and A. Kincaid & J. Bell. Edinburgh MDCCLXI [1761]. [VIII] (darunter Titelblatt, Widmung, Vorrede), [412] S., nebst 19 ausfaltbaren gestochenen Tafeln [= vollständig]. Braunes, poliertes Ganzkalbsleder der Zeit auf 5 Bünden. Rundrücken mit Titel auf Schildchen in Goldprägedruck. Rückenfelder eingefasst mit doppelten Goldlinien. Vorder- und Hinterdeckel mit doppelter Goldlinie gerahmt. Marmorierter Schnitt. Hochwertiges, dickeres Papier. Oktav. Zustand: Der Einband leicht berieben. Vorsätze im Randbereich leimschattig. Papier vereinzelt schwach braunfleckig. Die Tafel X ist statt auf S. 224 auf S. 204 eingebunden worden. Ein schönes, sammelwürdiges und seltenes Exemplar in einem bibliophilen Einband. ? Stewart (1717-1785) fungierte von 1747 bis zu seinem Tod als Professor für Mathematik an der Universität Edinburgh. In dem vorliegenden Buch, das zu Stewarts wichtigsten Veröffentlichungen zählt und sein einziges astronomisches Werk ist, beschreibt er die Planetenbewegung und die Störung eines Planeten durch einen anderen. Er liefert rein geometrische Beweise für eine Reihe von Ergebnissen, die zuvor lediglich mit algebraischen oder analytischen Methoden gewonnen worden waren. Zudem leistet er einige Beiträge zu dem äußerst schwierigen und wichtigen Dreikörperproblem. // [VIII] (including title page, dedication, preface), [412] p., together with 19 fold-out engraved plates [= complete]. Brown, polished full calf of the time on 5 frets. Round spine with title on small label in gold embossing. Spine panels bordered with double gold lines. Front and back covers framed with double gilt lines. Marbled edges. High quality, thicker paper. Octavo. Condition: Binding slightly rubbed. Endpapers shaded with glue in the margins. Paper sporadically faintly brown-stained. Plate X has been bound in on p. 204 instead of p. 224. A fine, collectible and rare copy in a bibliophile binding. ? Stewart (1717-1785) served as professor of mathematics at the University of Edinburgh from 1747 until his death. In the present book, which is one of Stewart's most important publications and his only astronomical work, he describes planetary motion and the perturbation of one planet by another. He provides purely geometrical proofs for a number of results that had previously been obtained only by algebraic or analytical methods. In addition, he makes some contributions to the extremely difficult and important three-body problem. "After his election to the chair [in 1747], Stewart's interests turned to astronomy and natural philosophy; and he displayed great ingenuity in devising purely geometrical proofs of results in these subjects that had previously been established by the use of algebraic and analytical methods. Examples of this kind are to be seen in 'Tracts, Physical and Mathematical'" (Dictionary of Scientific Biography. Volume 13, 54). "In 1761 Stewart, pursuing his plan of introducing the simplicity of ancient geometrical demonstrations into astronomic investigations, published 'Tracts, Physical and Mathematical, containing an Explication of several points in Physical Astronomy,' Edinburgh, 8vo. In these tracts, after laying down the doctrine of centripetal forces in a series of propositions requiring only a knowledge of the elements of plane geometry and of conic sections, he proceeded to determine in the same manner 'the effect of those forces which disturb the motions of a secondary planet.' A theorem in which he deduced the motion of the moon's apsides attained an accuracy far surpassing that reached by Newton. The result confirmed that arrived at through algebraical methods by Charles Wal.
Seller Inventory # QS-020
Contact seller
Report this item
