Does God Play Dice?: The Mathematics of Chaos - Couverture souple

Stewart, Ian

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 1557861064 ISBN 13 : 9781557861061

Editeur : Blackwell Publishers, 1990

Synopsis

"Does God Play Dice?" Yes, but how? Einstein did not believe that "God Plays Dice". He laid the foundations for today's thinking that the universe is governed by the immutable laws of physics - there is no room for chance, but these foundations may be built on sand. The science of chaos is forcing scientists to rethink even the most fundamental ideas about the way in which the universe behaves. Chaos thoery has already shown that the systems obeying precise laws can nevertheless act in a random manner. Perhaps God does play dice, within a cosmic game of complete law and order. This volume explains the contemporary theories of systems that obey simple laws but which are neither constant nor predictable. Ian Stewart reveals a strange universe. A universe in which nothing may be as it seems, where familiar geometrical shapes such as circles and ellipses give way to infinitely complex structures known as "fractals". He explains how the fluttering of a butterfly's wings can change the weather and how the gravitational attraction of a creature in a distant galaxy can change the fate of the solar system. This text tells the story of this science and the implications chaos has for notions of predictability and the verification of scientific theories. Chaos is a whole world of ideas and possibilities, a kind of matementics, a fundamental insight into nature itself and it brings us closer to an understanding of literally everything.

A propos du livre

Quatrième de couverture

"You believe in a God who plays dice, and I in complete law and order." — Albert Einstein The science of chaos is forcing scientists to rethink Einstein′s fundamental assumptions regarding the way the universe behaves. Chaos theory has already shown that simple systems, obeying precise laws, can nevertheless act in a random manner. Perhaps God plays dice within a cosmic game of complete law and order. Does God Play Dice? reveals a strange universe in which nothing may be as it seems. Familiar geometrical shapes such as circles and ellipses give way to infinitely complex structures known as fractals, the fluttering of a butterfly′s wings can change the weather, and the gravitational attraction of a creature in a distant galaxy can change the fate of the solar system. This revised and updated edition includes three chapters on the prediction and control of chaotic systems. New information regarding the solar system and an account of complexity theory is also incorporated. It is a lucid and witty book which makes the complex mathematics of chaos accessible and entertaining.

Présentation de l'éditeur

The revised and updated edition includes three completely new chapters on the prediction and control of chaotic systems. It also incorporates new information regarding the solar system and an account of complexity theory. This witty, lucid and engaging book makes the complex mathematics of chaos accessible and entertaining. Presents complex mathematics in an accessible style. Includes three new chapters on prediction in chaotic systems, control of chaotic systems, and on the concept of chaos. Provides a discussion of complexity theory.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Blackwell Publishers
• Date d'édition: 1990
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 1557861064
• ISBN 13: 9781557861061
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 360
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible