A Treatise on the Cycloid and All Forms of Cycloidal Curves, and on the Use of Such Curves

This work deals primarily with the geometry of cycloidsy curves traced out by a point in a circle rolling on a straight line, or on or within another circle, and trochoids (or hoop-curves), curves traced out by a point within or without a circle so rolling. Although the invention of the cycloid is attributed to Galileo, it is certain that the family of curves to which the cycloid belongs had been known, and some of the properties of such curves investigated, nearly two thousand years before Galileo stime, if not earlier. For ancient astronomers explained the motion of the planets by supposing that each planet travels uniformly round a circle whose centre travels uniformly round another circle. By suitably selecting radii for such circles, and velocities for the uniform motions in them, every form of epicyclic curve can be obtained, including the epicycloid and the hypocycloid.(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)About the Publisher Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklore and Mythology.Forgotten Books' Classic Reprint Series utilizes the latest technology to regenerate facsimiles of historically important writings. Careful attention has been made to accurately preserve the original format of each page whilst digitally enhancing the aged text. Read books online for free at