The Parsimonious Universe

Shape and Form in the Natural World
1996
ISBN: 978-1-4612-7532-9
Verlag: Springer

Buch, Englisch, 330 Seiten, Format (B × H): 191 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 651 g

The variety of sizes, shapes, and irregularities in nature is endless. Through illustrations and text, the authors of The Parsimonious Universe describe the efforts by scientists and mathematicians since the Renaissance to identify and describe the basic laws underlying the shape of natural forms. Can one set of laws account for both the symmetry and irregularity as well as the infinite variety of nature's designs? Complete answers to these questions are likely novel to be discovered. Still, down through the ages, the investigation of form and pattern in nature has yielded some fascinating and surprising insights. Out of this inquiry comes a specific branch of mathematics - the calculus of variations - which explores questions of optimization (finding designs that maximize or minimize a particular quantity).

Zielgruppe

Popular/general

Autoren/Hrsg.

Tromba, Anthony

Hildebrandt, Stefan

Fachgebiete

• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften: Forschung und Information Kybernetik, Systemtheorie, Komplexe Systeme
• Mathematik | Informatik Mathematik Numerik und Wissenschaftliches Rechnen Optimierung
• Mathematik | Informatik Mathematik Geometrie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Prologue: On Form and Shape.- 1 A Grand Scheme of the World.- 2 The Heritage of Ancient Science.- 3 Shortest and Quickest Connections.- 4 A Miracle and Not a Miracle.- 5 Soap Films: The Amusement of Children and Mathematicians.- 6 Optimal Design.- Epilogue: Dynamics and Motion.- References, Comments, and Further Readings.- Sources of Quotations.- Sources of Illustrations.