克莱罗定理的来源初探

A Preliminary Study on the Origin of the Clairaut's Theorem

17-18世纪,地球形状问题成为有争议的时代主题。克莱罗基于对地球形状问题的初步研究,结合他参与的拉普兰远征工作以及对牛顿工作的改进,最终于1738年提出克莱罗定理,暂时平息了这场争论。这一定理是物理大地测量学的早期尝试,同时也是几何学与流体静力学的有机结合,因而是科学史中具有重要研究价值的历史问题。基于相关文献,探讨克莱罗定理的来源,梳理克莱罗定理的提出过程,分析其提出该定理的思路和方法,有助于深刻理解地球形状问题的解决历程及由此产生的新思想,并从新的视角了解大地测量学的早期实践。

In the 17th and 18th centuries,the figure of the earth was a highly controversial theme of the time.Based on the early research on the problem,combined with the measurement in the Lapland expedition he taken part,Alexis-Claude Clairaut proposed the Clairaut’s theorem in 1738,which put the controversy to rest temporarily.The origin of the Clairaut’s theorem is of the great worth to be studied for the history of science,which was actually not only an early attempt in physical geodesy,but also a perfect integration of geometry and fluid statics.Based on interpreting original documents,the background and origins of the Clairaut's theorem were traced in the paper for analyzing his thought process,especially the geometric methods,in order to have a good understanding of the process of solving the problem of the figure of the earth and the early attempts in physical geodesy.