Available online
Description
The programme spans 10,000 years of mathematical modelling, from the puzzling lines etched on Baboon bones to the intricate brass designs of Babbage's engines and Kelvin's tide predictor.
The programme spans 10,000 years of mathematical modelling, from the puzzling lines etched on Baboon bones to the intricate brass designs of Babbage's engines and Kelvin's tide predictor.
| Module code and title: | MST121, Using mathematics |
|---|---|
| Item code: | MST121; 01 |
| First transmission date: | 24-02-1996 |
| Published: | 1996 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:23:58 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Phil Gauron |
| Contributors: | Jim Bennettt; Carmen Jackson Pryce; Eleanor Robson; Doron Swade |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | 10000 yrs of modelling; Babbage; Baboon bone etchings; Human use of everyday materials; Kelvin's tide predictor; Logarithms; Mathematical modelling; Napier's Bones/Rods; Sundials |
| Subject terms: | Mathematical models |
| Footage description: | Footage - Sunrise. Baboons on a hill. Sunset. Sequence show the rising of the moon.(0'22"-0'59") - Baboon bone. Moon waxing and waning. Moon surface(1'00"-2'11") - Churchyard view closing in on wall mounted sundial. Sunrise sequence. Sequence showing shadows on sundial(2'12"-4'15") - Astrolabe. Acropolis. Sun though aperture. Jim Bennett speaking. View of the Earth. Model of Earth in space. Astrolabe. Night sky. Ship at sea. Jim Bennett. Astrolabe (4'16"-7'36") - Eleanor Robson speaking. Babylonian tokens. Sheep in cattle market arena. Tokens. Shepherds herding sheep into a pen. Eleanor Robson. Babylonian tablet. Eleanor Robson(7'37"-9'50") - Rope knot. B/w still of Inca settlement. Cows walking in a field. Piece of knotted rope. Several pieces of coloured knotted rope(9'51"-11'07") - Cellar doors of a pub opening and barrel being delivered. Wooden tally. Pump being knocked into barrel. Wooden tally. Beer pump handle being pulled. A pint being poured panning out to view of barman behind bar(11'08"-12' 15") - Japanese children in classroom using Soroban. Picture of soroban. Teacher writing on blackboard. Japanese children using soroban. Picture of a soroban. Graphics showing sums(12'16"-15'00") - Portrait of John Napier. Napier bones with sums to be calculated at side of screen. Page of Mathematical tables. Page of logarithms. Ship at sea. Doron Swade speaking. 5 leather bound books panning out to open book showing tables. B/w etching of Charles Babbage. Page of tables(15'01"-18'02") - 24 empty chairs in 3 rows: chairs occupied by children. Graphical model. Children calculating tables(18'03"-19'56") - Cogs in Bagges computer. Doron Swade. Moon in sky. Kelvin's tide predictor. Sequence showing moon over the sea. Kelvin's model. Baboons in natural habitat(19'57"-23"58"). |
| Master spool number: | DOU8271 |
| Production number: | FOUM487S |
| Videofinder number: | 5033 |
| Available to public: | no |
