The Application of Mathematics to the Sciences of Nature

The Application of Mathematics to the Sciences of Nature PDF Author: Claudio Pellegrini
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1461505917
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 292

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Book Description
The historical and epistemological reflection on the applications of mathematical techniques to the Sciences of Nature - physics, biology, chemistry, and geology - today generates attention and interest because of the increasing use of mathematical models in all sciences and their high level of sophistication. The goal of the meeting and the papers collected in this proceedings volume is to give physicists, biologists, mathematicians, and historians of science the opportunity to share information on their work and reflect on the and mathematical models are used in the natural sciences today and in way mathematics the past. The program of the workshop combines the experience of those working on current scientific research in many different fields with the historical analysis of previous results. We hope that some novel interdisciplinary, philosophical, and epistemological considerations will follow from the two aspects of the workshop, the historical and the scientific· This proceedings includes papers presented at the meeting and some of the results of the discussions that took place during the workshop. We wish to express our gratitude to Sergio Monteiro for all his work, which has been essential for the successful publication of these proceedings. We also want to thank the editors of Kluwer AcademidPlenum Publishers for their patience and constant help, and in particular Beth Kuhne and Roberta Klarreich. Our thanks to the fallowing institutions: -Amministrazione Comunale di Arcidosso -Comunita Montana del Monte Amiata ·Center for the History of Physics, UCLA -Centre F.

The Application of Mathematics to the Sciences of Nature

The Application of Mathematics to the Sciences of Nature PDF Author: Claudio Pellegrini
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1461505917
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 292

Get Book Here

Book Description
The historical and epistemological reflection on the applications of mathematical techniques to the Sciences of Nature - physics, biology, chemistry, and geology - today generates attention and interest because of the increasing use of mathematical models in all sciences and their high level of sophistication. The goal of the meeting and the papers collected in this proceedings volume is to give physicists, biologists, mathematicians, and historians of science the opportunity to share information on their work and reflect on the and mathematical models are used in the natural sciences today and in way mathematics the past. The program of the workshop combines the experience of those working on current scientific research in many different fields with the historical analysis of previous results. We hope that some novel interdisciplinary, philosophical, and epistemological considerations will follow from the two aspects of the workshop, the historical and the scientific· This proceedings includes papers presented at the meeting and some of the results of the discussions that took place during the workshop. We wish to express our gratitude to Sergio Monteiro for all his work, which has been essential for the successful publication of these proceedings. We also want to thank the editors of Kluwer AcademidPlenum Publishers for their patience and constant help, and in particular Beth Kuhne and Roberta Klarreich. Our thanks to the fallowing institutions: -Amministrazione Comunale di Arcidosso -Comunita Montana del Monte Amiata ·Center for the History of Physics, UCLA -Centre F.

Mathematics And The Natural Sciences: The Physical Singularity Of Life

Mathematics And The Natural Sciences: The Physical Singularity Of Life PDF Author: Giuseppe Longo
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 1908977795
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 337

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Book Description
This book identifies the organizing concepts of physical and biological phenomena by an analysis of the foundations of mathematics and physics. Our aim is to propose a dialog between different conceptual universes and thus to provide a unification of phenomena. The role of “order” and symmetries in the foundations of mathematics is linked to the main invariants and principles, among them the geodesic principle (a consequence of symmetries), which govern and confer unity to various physical theories. Moreover, an attempt is made to understand causal structures, a central element of physical intelligibility, in terms of both symmetries and symmetry breakings. A distinction between the principles of (conceptual) construction and of proofs, both in physics and in mathematics, guides most of the work.The importance of mathematical tools is also highlighted to clarify differences in the models for physics and biology that are proposed by continuous and discrete mathematics, such as computational simulations.Since biology is particularly complex and not as well understood at a theoretical level, we propose a “unification by concepts” which in any case should precede mathematization. This constitutes an outline for unification also based on highlighting conceptual differences, complex points of passage and technical irreducibilities of one field to another. Indeed, we suppose here a very common monist point of view, namely the view that living objects are “big bags of molecules”. The main question though is to understand which “theory” can help better understand these bags of molecules. They are, indeed, rather “singular”, from the physical point of view. Technically, we express this singularity through the concept of “extended criticality”, which provides a logical extension of the critical transitions that are known in physics. The presentation is mostly kept at an informal and conceptual level./a

Mathematics in Nature

Mathematics in Nature PDF Author: John Adam
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 1400841011
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 408

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Book Description
From rainbows, river meanders, and shadows to spider webs, honeycombs, and the markings on animal coats, the visible world is full of patterns that can be described mathematically. Examining such readily observable phenomena, this book introduces readers to the beauty of nature as revealed by mathematics and the beauty of mathematics as revealed in nature. Generously illustrated, written in an informal style, and replete with examples from everyday life, Mathematics in Nature is an excellent and undaunting introduction to the ideas and methods of mathematical modeling. It illustrates how mathematics can be used to formulate and solve puzzles observed in nature and to interpret the solutions. In the process, it teaches such topics as the art of estimation and the effects of scale, particularly what happens as things get bigger. Readers will develop an understanding of the symbiosis that exists between basic scientific principles and their mathematical expressions as well as a deeper appreciation for such natural phenomena as cloud formations, halos and glories, tree heights and leaf patterns, butterfly and moth wings, and even puddles and mud cracks. Developed out of a university course, this book makes an ideal supplemental text for courses in applied mathematics and mathematical modeling. It will also appeal to mathematics educators and enthusiasts at all levels, and is designed so that it can be dipped into at leisure.

Mathematics for Natural Scientists

Mathematics for Natural Scientists PDF Author: Lev Kantorovich
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 149392785X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 536

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Book Description
This book covers a course of mathematics designed primarily for physics and engineering students. It includes all the essential material on mathematical methods, presented in a form accessible to physics students, avoiding precise mathematical jargon and proofs which are comprehensible only to mathematicians. Instead, all proofs are given in a form that is clear and convincing enough for a physicist. Examples, where appropriate, are given from physics contexts. Both solved and unsolved problems are provided in each section of the book. Mathematics for Natural Scientists: Fundamentals and Basics is the first of two volumes. Advanced topics and their applications in physics are covered in the second volume.

Mathematics Applied to Deterministic Problems in the Natural Sciences

Mathematics Applied to Deterministic Problems in the Natural Sciences PDF Author: C. C. Lin
Publisher: SIAM
ISBN: 9780898712292
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 646

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Book Description
This book addresses the construction, analysis, and intepretation of mathematical models that shed light on significant problems in the physical sciences, with exercises that reinforce, test and extend the reader's understanding. It may be used as an upper level undergraduate or graduate textbook as well as a reference for researchers.

The Nature of Mathematics

The Nature of Mathematics PDF Author: Philip E. B. Jourdain
Publisher: Courier Corporation
ISBN: 0486154963
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 82

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Book Description
Anyone interested in mathematics will appreciate this survey, which explores the distinction between the body of knowledge known as mathematics and the methods used in its discovery. 1913 edition.

Philosophy of Mathematics and Natural Science

Philosophy of Mathematics and Natural Science PDF Author: Hermann Weyl
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 9780691141206
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 338

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Book Description
History of mathematics.

Mathematics and the Natural Sciences

Mathematics and the Natural Sciences PDF Author: Francis Bailly
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 1848166931
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 337

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Book Description
The book aims at the identification of the organising concepts of some physical and biological phenomena, by means of an analysis of the foundations of mathematics and of physics. This is done in the perspective of unifying phenomena, of bringing different conceptual universes into dialog. The analysis of the role of “order” and of symmetries in the foundations of mathematics is linked to the main invariants and principles, among which the geodesic principle (a consequence of symmetries), which govern and confer unity to the various physical theories. Moreover, we attempt to understand causal structures, a central element of physical intelligibility, in terms of symmetries and their breakings. The importance of the mathematical tool is also highlighted, enabling us to grasp the differences in the models for physics and biology which are proposed by continuous and discrete mathematics, such as computational simulations. A distinction between principles of (conceptual) construction and principles of proofs, both in physics and in mathematics, guides this part of the work.As for biology, being particularly difficult and not as thoroughly examined at a theoretical level, we propose a “unification by concepts”, an attempt which should always precede mathematisation. This constitutes an outline for unification also basing itself upon the highlighting of conceptual differences, of complex points of passage, of technical irreducibilities of one field to another. Indeed, a monist point of view such as ours should not make us blind: we, the living objects, are surely just big bags of molecules or, at least, this is our main metaphysical assumption. The point though is: which theory can help us to better understand these bags of molecules, as they are, indeed, rather “singular”, from the physical point of view. Technically, this singularity is expressed by the notion of “extended criticality”, a notion that logically extends the pointwise critical transitions in physics.

The Nature and Power of Mathematics

The Nature and Power of Mathematics PDF Author: Donald M. Davis
Publisher: Courier Corporation
ISBN: 0486152154
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 408

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Book Description
This captivating book explains some of the most fascinating ideas of mathematics to nonspecialists, focusing on non-Euclidean geometry, number theory, and fractals. Numerous illustrations. 1993 edition.

Mathematics and Its Applications to Science and Natural Philosophy in the Middle Ages

Mathematics and Its Applications to Science and Natural Philosophy in the Middle Ages PDF Author: Edward Grant
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 052132260X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 354

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Book Description
Eleven distinguished historians of science explore natural philosophy and mathematics in the Middle Ages.