The Mathematical Bridge

The Mathematical Bridge is the popular name of a wooden bridge across the River Cam, between two parts of Queens' College, Cambridge. Its official name is merely the Wooden Bridge. Image File history File links Mathematical-Bridge. ... Image File history File links Mathematical-Bridge. ... volcanic rock. ... View north from Kings College bridge The River Cam is a tributary of the River Great Ouse in the east of England. ... Full name The Queens College of Saint Margaret and Saint Bernard in the University of Cambridge Motto Floreat Domus May this House Flourish Named after - Previous names - Established 1448 Sister College(s) Pembroke College President Lord Eatwell Location Silver Street Undergraduates 490 Postgraduates 270 Homepage Boatclub The Gatehouse, as...

The bridge was designed by William Etheridge, and built by James Essex in 1749. It has been rebuilt on two occasions — 1866 and 1905 — but has kept the same overall design.

The title of 'Mathematical Bridge' was also given to one of the former bridges of the Cam between Trinity and Trinity Hall, also designed by James Essex, where Garret Hostel Bridge now stands. Full name The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity Motto Virtus vera nobilitas Virtue is true Nobility Named after The Holy Trinity Previous names King’s Hall and Michaelhouse (until merged in 1546) Established 1546 Sister College(s) Christ Church Master The Lord Rees of Ludlow Location Trinity Street... College name College of Scholars of the Holy Trinity of Norwich Named after The Holy Trinity Established 1350 Location Trinity Lane Admittance Men and women Master Prof. ...

Myths

There are several myths surrounding the construction of the bridge:

• That the bridge is of Chinese origin and that its design incorporates some form of special mathematical technique from which it derives its name.
• That the bridge was designed and built by students. It was so perfect that the planks were laid one on top of the other and held together by their weight and the angles by which they were put together. The professors were so intrigued and in awe of its architecture that they took it apart to see how it was built. Their downfall was that they could not piece it back together again and therefore the bridge is now held together by nuts, bolts and screws.
• That the bridge was designed by Isaac Newton, but that he did so without the need for bolts to hold the wood together - the story of college members then dismantling it and being unable to reassemble it is also part of this version of the myth. This version is unlikely to be true because Newton died in 1727, 22 years before the bridge was constructed.

Tellers of these myths rarely elaborate on what these mysterious mathematical techniques might have been. Sir Isaac Newton (4 January 1643 – 31 March 1727) [ OS: 25 December 1642 – 20 March 1726][1] was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, and alchemist. ...

See also

• List of bridges in Cambridge

The following is a list and brief history of the bridges over the River Cam in Cambridge, England. ...

External link

• Queens' College's history of the bridge

Coordinates: 52°12′07″N, 0°06′54″E Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...