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Posters
Cycloid poster
₹199
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A minimalistic poster depicting that the fastest path between two points isn't the straight one — it falls vertically first, so gravity does the work early. Bernoulli set it as a challenge in 1696; Newton solved it overnight and submitted anonymously.
The science
Given two points at different heights, the ramp that gets a ball between them fastest is not the straight line but a cycloid — the curve traced by a point on the rim of a rolling wheel. It dips lower than the direct path, trading distance for early speed, and wins.
Source. Posed as a public challenge by Johann Bernoulli in June 1696. Newton received it after a day at the Royal Mint, solved it overnight, and published anonymously; Bernoulli recognised the author regardless.
Why we made it. It is a result that contradicts the obvious answer and is still correct, which is most of what makes a problem worth framing.
Specifications
- Sizes
- A5 — 14.8 × 21 cm (5.8 × 8.3")
- A4 — 21 × 29.7 cm (8.3 × 11.7")
- A3 — 29.7 × 42 cm (11.7 × 16.5")
- Paper
- 250 gsm matte art paper
- Finish
- Matte, non-reflective
- Printing
- Pigment inkjet, printed to order
- Border
- 2 mm white border on all four sides, for mounting
- Framing
- Ships unframed and flat; standard A-series frames fit without trimming
- Packing
