D'ALEMBERT, Jean Le Rond dit ) || CONDORCET, Nicolas de || BOSSUT, Charles. Nouvelles expériences sur la résistance des fluides. 1777.
D'ALEMBERT, Jean Le Rond dit ) || CONDORCET, Nicolas de || BOSSUT, Charles.
Nouvelles expériences sur la résistance des fluides.
Paris, Claude-Antoine Jombert, 1777.
8vo (195x125 mm), (4)-232 pages et 5 planches dépliantes. binding : Contemporary full sheep, spine with six compartments. Leather on spine worn, loss of leather on tail cap. Binding curved. Fresh copy.
First edition.
Collection of hydrodynamic experiments carried out in a basin of the Military School by D'Alembert, Condorcet and Bossut. Turgot had commissioned them to look for ways to improve river navigation. The results of these experiments led to establish what will become the D'Alembert paradox, which will only be solved with the theory of wakes.
Indeed according to the hydrodynamic equations of the time, "a body should be able to progress in a fluid without experiencing any resistance or, which amounts to the same thing, that a bridge pier plunged into the course of a river should not. undergo no pushing on his part ", which the experiments carried out denied.
Beyond the treatise on hydrodynamics, this book bears witness to a science in progress which intricates theory and experience.
references: DSB [I, 110].
Price : 300 €