Nature's Constants

ISBN: 1479187038

Author: Oman, Dr Robert M.

Condition: New

Product Description This discussion of natural constants is a most fascinating one. Dr. Oman addresses the origin of things such as pi (the circumference to diameter ratio for a circle), the number e (the basis of natural logarithms and the controlling constant in growth and decay); used in the description of radioactive decay and the growth of yeast just to name two. The color photographs of flowers representing Fibonacci numbers are fascinating as is the discussion of the connection between Fibonacci numbers, Pascals triangle and the golden ratio. Did you ever think there was a connection between the second and the meter? Well, there is! And what about the relation between factorials (very simple mathematical operations) and constants found in nature? And no discussion of natural constants would be complete without consideration of the inch, the foot and the mile and their relation to simple astronomical observation. About the Author Dr. Robert Oman received the B.S. degree from Northeastern University and the Sc.M. and Ph.D. degrees from Brown University, all in physics. He has taught mathematics and physics at several colleges and universities including University of Minnesota, Northeastern University, University of South Florida and University of Tampa. He has also done research for Litton Industries, United Technologies, and NASA, where he developed the theoretical model for the first pressure gauge sent to the moon. He is author of numerous technical articles, books, and how-to-study books, tapes, and videos. His lifelong interest in natural constants is an outgrowth of his curiosity as to where the numbers he was using in his research came from. This book is a compilation of what he has learned to date. Further research will be published in subsequent editions.