E413 -- De promotione navium sine vi venti (Memoire sur la manier de suppleer a l'action du vent)

(On the movement of ships without the force of the wind)

Summary:

(based on C. Truesdell's An idiot's fugitive essays on science: methods, criticisms, training, circumstances)

This work was submitted to the Paris Academy Prize Competition in 1753. Euler analyzes various ways of propelling ships, including via paddle wheel, screw propeller, and water jet. He applies his field theory of hydrodynamics to this problem. He was awarded an “Accessit” ('honorable mention') in 1753.

Motto on the title page: “Tali remigio navis se tarda movebat. Virg. Aeneid. Liv. 5.”

Publication:

Originally published in Piece qui a remporte le prix de l'academie royale des sciences 1753, 1771, pp. 1-47
Opera Omnia: Series 2, Volume 20, pp. 190 - 228
Recueil des pièces qui ont remporté les prix de l'académie royale des sciences 8, 1771

Documents Available:

Original Document: E413
E413 is discussed in Ed Sandifer's How Euler Did It February 2004 column published online by the MAA.

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