Leonhard Euler

by Jong Rak Koh

Leonhard Euler

Leonhard Euler was a Swiss Mathematician and physicist who made important contributions to math and physics. Euler is often considered one of the greatest mathematicians to have ever lived.

Early Life

Euler was born in Basel, Switzerland on April 15th, 1707. His father was a minister and the family naturally expected Euler to also go in to ministry. However, his father sparked a curiosity in math for Euler and he entered University of Basel at the age of 14, with Johann Bernoulli as his mentor.

Contributions to Physics

Arguably the greatest mathematician in history, Euler made lots of contribution to math such as the number “[math]\displaystyle{ e }[/math]”, the concept of a function, summation notation “Σ”, imaginary unit notation “[math]\displaystyle{ i }[/math]”, and popularizing [math]\displaystyle{ \pi }[/math]; however, Euler also made lots of important contributions to physics.

Euler-Bernoulli beam equation

The theory validates the beam deflection calculation for laterally loaded beams. The equation provides a relationship between the deflection of the beam and the applied load intensity.

[math]\displaystyle{ \frac{\mathrm{d}^2}{\mathrm{d} x^2}\left(EI \frac{\mathrm{d}^2 w}{\mathrm{d} x^2}\right) = q\, }[/math]

where

[math]\displaystyle{ w }[/math] = Out-of-plane displacement of the beam

[math]\displaystyle{ E }[/math] = modulus of elasticity (Young's Modulus),

[math]\displaystyle{ I }[/math] = area moment of inertia, and

[math]\displaystyle{ q }[/math] = distributed load (force per unit length)

Work in Astronomy

Understanding the nature of comets

In addition to his work with classical mechanics, Euler was recognized by Paris Academy Prizes over the course of his career for calculating, with great accuracy, the orbits of comets and other celestial bodies.

Calculating the parallax of the sun

A simplified illustration of the parallax of an object

Euler calculated the parallax of the sun, calculating the difference in the apparent position of the object and the actual position of the object. Euler’s calculation of the parallax later led to the development of more accurate longitude tables.

Work in optics

Diffraction pattern of red laser beam made on a plate after passing a small circular hole in another plate

While Newton argued that light was made of particles, Euler argued that light behaved more like waves. In Nova theoria lucis et colorum (1746), Euler argued that diffractions can be more easily argued with the wave theory rather than the previous “pulse theory”. Euler’s wave theory remained the dominant theory about light until the quantum theory of light.

Structural Engineering

Euler also published a formula for calculating the force where the strut would fail that is often used in structural engineering.

[math]\displaystyle{ F=\frac{\pi^2 EI}{(KL)^2} }[/math]

where

[math]\displaystyle{ F }[/math] = maximum or critical force (vertical load on column),

[math]\displaystyle{ E }[/math] = modulus of elasticity (Young's Modulus),

[math]\displaystyle{ I }[/math] = area moment of inertia,

[math]\displaystyle{ L }[/math] = unsupported length of column,

[math]\displaystyle{ K }[/math] = column effective length factor, depending on the conditions of end support of the column

[math]\displaystyle{ K L }[/math] = length of the column.

Fluid Dynamics

Euler in 1757 published a set of equations for flow of an ideal fluid with no viscosity (Inviscid flow) that are now known as the Euler Equations.

[math]\displaystyle{ \rho\left( \frac{\partial}{\partial t}+{ \mathbf {u}}\cdot\nabla \right){ \mathbf {u}}+\nabla p=0 }[/math]

where

[math]\displaystyle{ { \mathbf {u}} }[/math] = fluid velocity

[math]\displaystyle{ p }[/math] = pressure, and

[math]\displaystyle{ \rho }[/math] = fluid density

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History

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See also

Daniel Bernoulli Wave-Particle Duality Young's Modulus Multisource Interference: Diffraction

Further reading

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External links

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References

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