Sundials: Their Construction and Use - Brossura

Mayall, R. Newton; Mayall, Margaret W.

Brossura

ISBN 10: 048641146X ISBN 13: 9780486411460

Casa editrice: Dover Pubns, 2000

Riassunto

To many people, the construction of a sundial implies laborious mathematical calculations and a knowledge of astronomy. Nothing could be farther from the truth. This fascinating handbook, used in conjunction with ordinary tools and materials found around the home, makes it easy to design and construct a sundial on almost any surface and in virtually any position.
Introductory chapters offer a wealth of information on the sundial's development from ancient times to the present, why the sundial tells time, how to design and make a dial, and more. These chapters are followed by full instructions on how to construct the hour lines for many kinds of sundials, by the graphic or geometric method. The use of this method doesn't require a knowledge of mathematics or astronomy. It simplicity and accuracy, together with the ease and quickness of delineation, make it very practical. Readers will also find fascinating chapters on dial furniture, portable sundials, constructing a heliochronometer (a highly precise solar timekeeper), sundial classification, and other topics.
Accompanying the text are 150 well-chosen illustrations, many published for the first time. They depict scale models, as well as a moon dial, a cathedral dial, and other actual dials from around the world, including the world's largest, in Jaipur, India. If you've ever wanted to build your own sundial, or if you simply want to know more about these ancient timepieces that can show the time of day as accurately as many clocks, this clearly written, easy-to-follow guide is "the best book available." &; Commonweal.

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Contenuti

I THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SUNDIAL A brief outline from ancient times to the present. II WHY THE SUNDIAL TELLS TIME What you ought to know. Invention of the armillary and its use. Mean Time and Standard Time. III HOW TO DESIGN AND MAKE A DIAL Simple instructions how to go about making a sundial. IV SELECTING THE DIAL TO MAKE OR BUY: GUIDELINES AND MATERIALS What to look for when buying a dial. Notes concerning individual dials and suggested locations or settings to aid in selecting the type of dial best suited to your needs. Various materials commonly used in making dials. Classification of dials. V PARTS OF A DIAL YOU SHOULD KNOW Descriptions of terms and parts commonly associated with sundials. How to determine a true north line or meridian. How to find the declination of a plane or dial. How to find the reclination of a plane or dial. How to set your dial. How to make and use a vernier. VI TIME AND STANDARD TIME DIALS How time is obtained. The equation of time explained and its use. How Standard Time may be obtained from the reading of a sundial. How to make Standard Time Dials. The heliochronometer. VII HOW TO LAY OUT THE HOUR LINES The graphic method of laying out hour lines on many types of dials. Hour limitations of the various dials. Setting the dials. VIII DIAL FURNITURE "Description and use of various lines, figures and symbols which may be added to the dial that it may be of more interest and use." Educational value of the sundial and its furniture. The signs of the Zodiac defined. IX HOW TO LAY OUT THE LINES OF DECLINATION The graphic method of laying out the lines of declination on many types of dials. X PORTABLE SUNDIALS "Types of Azimuth and Altitude Dials: Ring, Cylinder, Quadrant, Capuchin, O-G, Horizontal Altitude, Horizontal Azimuth, Magnetic Azimuth. " XI VARIABLE CENTER DIALS Analemmatic and Lambert Dials. XII THE HELIOCHRONOMETER Details and construction. The Analemma. How to use the Heliochronometer. Formulae for the Analemma. XIII SUNDIAL CLASSIFICATION Oridinary and Special Types. Definitions and criteria for distinguishing various kinds. Classification scheme and register card. XIV INTERESTING DIALS OF THE WORLD The Great Dial at Jaipur A Desirable Instrument A Noon Mark Goes to Sea An Armillary The Whitehall Dial Flower Time A Moon Dial Cathedral Dials Singing Tower Dial Exploration And Fired the Shot Heard at Noon. XV HUNTING SUNDIALS Where to look for dials and how to photograph them. APPENDIX I FORMULAS "Formulas for computing the position of the hour lines on many types of dials, by trigonometry." The tangent method of laying out the hour lines. How to compute the azimuth and altitude of the sun. Computing the azimuth and time of sunrise and sunset. II TABLE FOR CONVERTING DEGREES OF ARC INTO MINUTES OF TIME OR VICE VERSA A convenient table to relieve you of a laborious calculation.

Product Description

Clearly written, easy-to-follow instructions for constructing a sundial on almost any surface and in virtually any position, with information on selecting appropriate materials, making Standard Time dials, and laying out hour lines. Dial furniture, portable sundials, constructing a heliochronometer, and other subjects also covered. Over 60 illustrations.

Dettagli dell'edizione

• Editore: Dover Pubns
• Data di pubblicazione: 2000
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 048641146X
• ISBN 13: 9780486411460
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero di pagine: 250
• Contatto del produttore: non disponibile
• Persona responsabile: Soc. Agr. La Raia Ss; http://www.la-raia.it; ; Strada Monterotondo, 79; Novi Ligure; 15067; Italia