What can you calculate with a slide rule?

What can you calculate with a slide rule?

A slide rule works by adding or subtracting the numerical exponents of numbers for multiplication or division, respectively. Thus, numbers to be multiplied or divided are converted to their logarithmic values and their exponents are added or subtracted.

What is the formula for calculating sine?

What Is the Sin Formula? The sine of an angle of a right-angled triangle is the ratio of its perpendicular (that is opposite to the angle) to the hypotenuse. The sin formula is given as: sin θ = Perpendicular / Hypotenuse.

Did NASA use slide rules?

The slide rule. NASA engineers used slide rules to build the rockets and plan the mission that landed Apollo 11 on the moon. It’s said that Buzz Aldrin needed his pocket slide rule for last-minute calculations before landing.

How do you use the slide rule bezel?

Look for the starting units of the measurement you would like to convert on the bezel on the watch. This should be on the interior stationary dial of the watch. Move the rotating part of the slide rule to line up the amount to be converted with the units marker on the inside of the dial.

How do you find sine and cosine of an angle?

In any right angled triangle, for any angle:

1. The sine of the angle = the length of the opposite side. the length of the hypotenuse.
2. The cosine of the angle = the length of the adjacent side. the length of the hypotenuse.
3. The tangent of the angle = the length of the opposite side. the length of the adjacent side.

How to do a calculation with a slide rule?

To do a calculation with a slide rule you reduce all numbers to scientific notation with 2-4 digits then use the slide rule to perform the basic operations. In a separate calculation you find the order of magnitude by combining the powers of 10. It is up to the operator to determine if the result makes sense or not. .

Where can I find a set of slide rules?

Today, slide rules can be found on eBay, antique stores and estate auctions. Lost inventories of brand new slide rules turn up every year. Before Computers? The scales on a slide rule are logarithmic, in that the spacing between divisions (the lines on the scale) become closer together as the value increases.

Why do you use slide rules for sin and Tan?

This section covers the use of slide rules for the calculation of both sin and tan. The reason for doing this is that below about 5° both the sine and the tangent are effectively equal to each other.

Which is the end of the sin scale?

The value of 5.74° is used as sin 5.74° equals 0.1 and therefore corresponds to the end of the scale. Some rules even dispense with the lower scale as, for small angles, sin » tan » 0.01745 x angle, to within the accuracy of a slide rule. Most, but not all rules which do this have a gauge point on the rule to simplify this calculation.