By: Anju (M. Sc. Mathematics)
Mathematics is certainly a subject to study in school, but still holds importance in developing skills and understanding in life. Many natural phenomena can teach us about science, life and mathematics .Let’s we know about the mathematics in nature!
1.The Fibonacci Sequence In Nature:
The Fibonacci sequence is the series of number where each number is sum of the two preceding numbers.
For example, 0, 1, 1,2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233,…… Mathematical we can describe this as:
In nature:
There are many example of Fibonacci sequence appearing in the natural world. Look at spiral of seeds in the centre of a sunflower and you’ll observe patterns curving left and right. If you count these spirals, your total will be a Fibonacci number.
2. Fractals and Natural Patterns:
Fractals are complex, self-similar patterns that are infinitely repeated and can be found in many natural patterns. One of the more standard methods to measure fractals is to use the Hausdorff Dimension, which is
where N is the number a original segment.
In nature:
Fractals pattern are extremely familiar, since nature is full of fractals. For instance: trees ,rivers, coastlines ,mountain, etc. Abstracts fractals such as the Mandelbrot Set - can be gererated by a computer calculating a simple equation over and over.
3.Symmetry In Nature:
Symmetry is a mathematical concept that describe when two or more parts of an object are identical or nearly identical, and it’s a comman feature in nature. It can be seen in various forms:
1.Bilateral Symmetry: Many animals, including humans, exhibit bilateral symmetry,where their bodies can be divided into mirrored halves along a central axis.
2.Radial Symmetry: Organisms like jellyfish and starfish display radial symmetry, allowing them to be divided into similar section around a central point.
3.Reflective Symmetry: This is common in plants, where leaves or flowers exhibit a mirrored structure.
in Nature
4.Logarithmic Spiral In Nature:
A logarithmic spiral is a self-similar spiral curve that appears in nature, such as in shells, hurricanes, and galaxies. It’s also known as an equiangular spiral or growth spiral. The equation of a logarithmic spiral is
where: r is radius of each turn of the spiral, a and b are constant ,
theta is the angle of rotation as curve spirals and e the base of natural logarithm.
In Nature:
In several natural phenomena one may find curves that are close to being logarithmic spirals. Here follows some examples and reasons: The approach of a hawk to its prey. Their sharpest view is at an angle to their direction of flight; this angle is the same as the spiral’s pitch.
5.Geometric Shape In Nature:
Circles,hexagons, and triangles are very common in nature. Hexagons appear in beehives while triangles can be found in plants, and animal ears. Circles can be found in the eyes of animals, including humans.
6.Mathematics In Weather Patterns:
Mathematics plays a fundamental role in forecasting the weather. Numerical weather prediction uses mathematical models of the atmosphere and oceans to predict the weather based on current weather.
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