Model of a Hyperboloid Osculating a Scroll along a Generator, by Richard P. Baker, Baker #143 (a Ruled Surface)
date: label: date made
content: ca 1906-1935
name: label: maker
content: Baker, Richard P.
notes: label: Description
content: This geometric model was constructed by Richard P. Baker in the early twentieth century when he was Associate Professor of Mathematics at the University of Iowa. Baker believed that models were essential for the teaching of many parts of mathematics and physics, and over 100 of his models are in the museum collections.
label: Description
content: The typed paper label on the wooden base reads: No. 143 (/) Hyperboloid osculating (/) scroll. In a subsection of the Differential Geometry section of Baker’s 1931 catalog, it is listed as “143. Hyperboloid osculating a scroll along a generator.” A scroll is just another name for a ruled surface and the hyperboloid shown in this model is the yellow quartic scroll shown in Baker’s model No. 84 (MA.211257.010). In this model the blue threads are generators of the hyperboloid and the yellow threads are generators of the unnamed ruled surface. The hyperboloid osculating the scroll implies that, among other things, the two surfaces share a normal at the point of osculation. Unfortunately, Baker did not make it clear which of the generators he is the referring to and the photographs do not make it clear where that occurs.
label: Description
content: Reference:
label: Description
content: Richard P. Baker, Mathematical Models, Iowa City, 1931, pp. 8, 12.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
topic: label: Subject
content: Mathematics
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Mathematics
label: See more items in
content: Science & Mathematics
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Frances E. Baker
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MA.211257.026
label: accession number
content: 211257
label: catalog number
content: 211257.026
objectType: label: Object Name
content: geometric model
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: thread (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: blue (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: black (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: yellow (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: copper (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: screwed, bolted and threaded (overall production method/technique)
label: Measurements
content: average spatial: 27.8 cm x 26.2 cm x 25.6 cm; 10 15/16 in x 10 5/16 in x 10 3/32 in