United States Naval Academy - Lucky Bag Yearbook (Annapolis, MD)

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MATHEMATI OS ± AND 5 MECHANICS Head of Department of Mathematics and Mechanics: Professor of Mathematics S. J. BROWN, U. S. N. INSTRUCTORS: Lieut. Commander F. J. HORNE, U. S. N. Lieut. Commander C. P. SNYDER, U. S. N. Lieutenant W. K. RIDDLE, U. S. N. Lieutenant LEWIS COXE, U. S. N. Lieutenant J. C. TOWNSEND, U. S. N. Lieutenant W. W. SMYTH, U. S. N. Lieutenant P. P. BASSETT, U. S. N. Lieutenant C. C. SOULE, U. S. N. Lieutenant A. K. SHOUP, U. S. N. Lieutenant T. F. CALDWELL, U. S. N. M. PAUL, Professor of Mathematics H. U. S. N. Professor of Mathematics H. U. S. N. E. SMITH, Professor of Mathematics D. M. GARRISON, U. S. N. Professor of Mathematics W. S. HARSH- MAN, U. S. N. Professor of Mathematics H. L. RICE, U. S. N. Professor W. W. JOHNSON, U. S. Naval Academy Instructor ANGELO HALL, U. S. Naval Academy Instructor PAUL CAPRON, U. S. Naval Academy Instructor C. L. LEIPER, U. S. Naval Acad- emy Instructor W. J. KING, U. S. Naval Academy Instructor C. W. FREDERICK, U. S. Naval Academy 24

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Lt.-Comdr. A. W. Hinds THE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE ENGINEERING AND NAVAL CONSTRUCTION. S modern battleships become more and more complicated, and as their intricate steam and other machinery is now being run by line officers, it behooves every midshipman to make good use of the time that he spends with this department. Steam machinery and ship construction, which are hard enough for a would-be naval constructor to understand, are made as clear as possible by the use of sectional and working models of all sorts and descriptions, from globe valves to floating dry-docks. It should not be forgotten that this department gives the midshipman an excellent opportunity to become familiar with the use of tools and make things for himself — there is science even in handling a monkey wrench. I savvy lap and lead, and can calculate the speed, That an epicyclic train will drive a drill; I can shape the teeth of wheels, and find the size of reels, That are used in hauling heavy weights up hill. So said Joe Gish — and then some, as he made the hole in his hollow crank- shaft larger than the shaft itself, and read in his Engineering Mechanics that such things were but examples of the many compromises that had to be made in engine designing. 23

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Prof, of Mathematics, S. J. Brown THE DEPARTMENT OF MATHE- MATICS ATH., math., math. — first, last, and all the time ; we can never get away from it. With- out our mathematics we could not finish up a single one of our courses first or second class years — therefore, we learn it. The course is comparatively long and extensive, including a review of algebra and trigonometry, analytical geometry, calculus, mechanics, hydromechanics, and strength of materials, yet it might be twice as long to good advantage. The extra time, if it could be spared, would be spent mostly on problems and illustrations of the work, so that the midshipman, when he came to navigation, exterior ballistics, etc., later on in the course, would add his figures and pick out his loga- rithms more by instinct than by paying espe- cial attention to them. Here ' s the way the midshipman of 1912 is compelled to digest math. Starts his prob. and reads — Substituting, transposing, changing signs, clearing of fractions, and integrating, we have 1 rcos [(m + n) e]- wi— - rcos[(m— n) e]- - (m— n) I 2 m + n) And this is the way he does it : Figures out the whole prob. all the way through ; easy ! How savvy he was to discover it ! But wait a minute — what ' s that exponent? the deuce did they get a Where in 3 . no -in the 3 2? A ? L.... 3 . 2 ' 2 2 prob. anywhere. Book must be wrong. Next day in class the following dialogue takes place : Sir, how do they get the 3 2 in that seventh prob? Why — why — have you read over the lesson, Mr. B — ? That ought to follow from the first problem — 3 2, did you say? Well, I don ' t sec that right now, but I ' ll look the matter up and tell you to-morrow. Take the boards, gentlemen. 25