physics

Richard Ernest Kronauer

Richard Ernest Kronauer is a physics topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Richard Ernest Kronauer rather than just read about it. In short: Richard Ernest Kronauer (1925 – October 18, 2019) was the emeritus Gordon McKay professor of mechanical engineering at Harvard University. He conducted research in both fluid mechanics and applied mathematics.

Key takeaways

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Reference excerpt

Richard Ernest Kronauer (1925 – October 18, 2019) was the emeritus Gordon McKay professor of mechanical engineering at Harvard University. He conducted research in both fluid mechanics and applied mathematics. He is primarily known for his pioneering work in mathematical biology, especially his research on human circadian rhythms. Kronauer's 1982 paper "Mathematical model of the human circadian system with two interacting oscillators" outlined a new method for understanding the biological circuits that underlie daily body cycles in variables such as blood pressure or body temperature. Professor Kronauer's research also has direct implications for the causes and possible cures for many types of sleep disorders, and for this he received the Farrell Prize in Sleep Medicine in June 2008.

Biography Born in 1925 BS in mechanical engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology in 1947 MS in mechanical engineering from Harvard University in 1948 PhD in mechanical engineering from Harvard University in 1951 Dissertation: Secondary Flows in Fluid Dynamics, with advisor Howard Wilson Emmons Stayed at Harvard after PhD, and eventually named Gordon McKay professor (sometime before 1976) Wife Joanne Edwards Kronauer As of March 2008, Professor Kronauer is listed as co-inventor on 6 patents for devices relating to circadian rhythm: US Patent Numbers 5163426, 5176133, 5167228, 5304212, 5503637, 5545192 Co-inventor for pending patent application 11/113,356, filed Apr 25, 2005 Co-inventor for a reciprocating actuator (patent #3312842, 1964) and a fluid operating apparatus (patent #3274795, 1964) Died October 18, 2019.

Well-known students Steven H. Strogatz, PhD, Harvard University, 1986

Frequent collaborators Charles Czeisler Charles Stromeyer Alex Chaparro

Selected publications RE Kronauer. "Secondary Flows in Fluid Dynamics," Harvard University Dissertation, 1951. TA McMahon and RE Kronauer. "Tree structures: deducing the principle of mechanical design," J Theor Biol 59: 443–466, 1976. RE Kronauer, CA Czeisler, SF Pilato, MC Moore-Ede and ED Weitzman. "Mathematical model of the human circadian system with two interacting oscillators," Am J Physiol 242:R3-R17, 1982. CA Czeisler, JS Allan, SH Strogatz, JM Ronda, R Sanchez, CD Rios, WO Freitag, GS Richardson, and RE Kronauer. "Bright light resets the human circadian pacemaker independent of the timing of the sleep-wake cycle," Science 233(4764):667–671, August 1986. MC Khoo, RE Kronauer, KP Strohl and AS Slutsky. "Factors inducing periodic breathing in humans: a general model," J App Physiology 53(3):644–659, 1986. CA Czeisler, RE Kronauer, JS Allan, JF Duffy, ME Jewett, EN Brown, and JM Ronda. "Bright light induction of strong (type 0) resetting of the human circadian pacemaker," Science 244(4910):1328–1333, 1989. DB Boivin, JF Duffy, RE Kronauer, and CA Czeisler. "Dose-response relationships for resetting of human circadian clock by light," Nature 379:540–542 (February 1996). CA Czeisler, JF Duffy, TL Shanahan, EN Brown, JF Mitchell, DW Rimmer, JM Ronda, EJ Silva, JS Allan, JS Emens, DJ Dijk, and RE Kronauer. "Stability, Precision, and Near-24-Hour Period of the Human Circadian Pacemaker," Science 284(5423):2177–2181, 1999.

References

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Richard Ernest Kronauer

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Richard Ernest Kronauer claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In physics, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Richard Ernest Kronauer before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Richard Ernest Kronauer ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Richard Ernest Kronauer

In research: Richard Ernest Kronauer appears in physics research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Richard Ernest Kronauer in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Richard Ernest Kronauer is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 1925 births, 2019 deaths, 21st-century American physicists, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Richard Ernest Kronauer outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Richard Ernest Kronauer in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
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Frequently asked questions

What is Richard Ernest Kronauer in simple terms?

Why does Richard Ernest Kronauer matter?

Because it connects several physics ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Richard Ernest Kronauer?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Richard Ernest Kronauer.