STARS:Differential Analyzers
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Author: Michael Williams
Citation
Some of the most difficult problems in science and technology involve solving equations relating to complex physical situations such as predicting the heights of tides, designing antenna systems for radio communication, creating a reliable electrical power grid and accurately predicting where an artillery shell would fall. These problems were only capable of being solved when mechanical analog devices were invented to aid in the solution of differential equations. The creation of the differential analyzer in the first half of the 20th century was a breakthrough that allowed for advances in these and many other areas.
Timeline
| 1886 | Mechanical integrators created to help with things such as analysis of ocean tides. |
| 1931 | Bush torque amplifier and first differential analyzer |
| 1934 | Differential analyzers began to be built in the US, Britain, Norway, Sweden, etc. |
| 1942 | Rockefeller Differential analyzer (RDA2) |
| 1943 | The ENIAC team used vacuum tube electronics to create a device for calculating ballistics tables. |
| 1949 | Eventual replacement by digital differential analyzers |
| 1959 | Final replacement by general purpose digital computers when they became fast enough |
Essay
Bibliography
References of Historical Significance
References for Further Reading
