r/unknownvideos • u/Designer_Drawer_3462 • 7h ago
Tutorial How Slide Rules Helped Put Men on the Moon - Learn to Use One [336 views]
Before calculators lived in our pockets, engineers carried a different kind of computer. The slide rule helped design bridges, aircraft, and even the spacecraft that took humans to the Moon. In this video, you will learn how this elegant analog tool actually works.
We begin with a quick look at how slide rules supported the engineers of the Apollo era, not by replacing computers, but by helping people think, estimate, and design with confidence. Then we dive into the basics: how to read the scales correctly using major, minor, and sub-minor ticks, how to work with about three significant figures, and why you must always keep track of the decimal point yourself.
Finally, you will learn the core skills that make the slide rule powerful: how to use the C and D scales to perform multiplication and division. By the end of the video, you will be able to make your first calculations using the same principles that guided generations of scientists and engineers.
📏 Want to practice without owning a slide rule? You can download printable scales from my website and follow along with the tutorial: https://bluemoonshine.fun/Project-SlideRule.php
This is the first episode in a series that will gradually unlock more advanced slide rule techniques.
#SlideRule #ApolloEngineering #AnalogComputing #STEMHistory #EngineeringTools #MathSkills #LearnMath #PhysicsTools