Model of a Scroll of Order Eight by Richard P. Baker, Baker #85 (a Ruled Surface)
date: label: date made
content: ca 1900-1935
name: label: maker
content: Baker, Richard P.
notes: label: Description
content: This string model was constructed by Richard P. Baker, possibly before 1905 when he joined the mathematics faculty at the University of Iowa. Baker believed that models were essential for the teaching of many parts of mathematics and physics, and over one hundred of his models are in the museum collections.
label: Description
content: The typed part of a paper label on the bottom of the wooden base of this model reads: No. 85 (/) SCROLL OF ORDER 8 (/) CONES WITH COMMON VERTEX.
label: Description
content: Baker’s string models represent a special type of geometric surface called a ruled surface. A ruled surface, sometimes called a scroll, is one that is swept out by a moving line. This model shows the ruled surfaces generated by the double tangents of two spheres through a line. The two spheres are white balls with diameters of three inches and 1 ½ inches (7.6 cm. and 3.8 cm.). The tangent lines are in blue thread – each thread is tangent to both spheres and passes through the line shown in yellow thread. According to Baker’s label and catalogs, the surface is of degree eight.
label: Description
content: The model sold for $8.00.
label: Description
content: References:
label: Description
content: R. P. Baker, <I>A List of Mathematical Models</I>, [1905], p. 14.
label: Description
content: R. P. Baker, <I>Mathematical Models</I>, Iowa City, Iowa, 1931, p. 8.
label: Description
content: R. P. Baker Papers, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
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.211257.011
label: accession number
content: 211257
label: catalog number
content: 211257.011
objectType: label: Object Name
content: geometric model
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: plaster (overall material)
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: yellow (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: white (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: black (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: screwed, threaded and cast (overall production method/technique)
label: Measurements
content: average spatial: 17.1 cm x 25.6 cm x 20.7 cm; 6 23/32 in x 10 3/32 in x 8 5/32 in