
Mind The Gap: The Labyrinthine Story Of Planetary Orbits, Mathematics, And The Titius-bode Rule
Martin Beech(Author)
World Scientific Publishing Co Pte Ltd
Published on 6. September 2023
Book
Paperback/Softback
400 pages
978-981-12-7640-8 (ISBN)
Description
This book is concerned with two tightly knit topics - those of mathematics and astronomy. Its focus is primarily concerned with planetary astronomy, and specifically the history of accounting for the spacing of planetary orbits. The story begins with the ancient Greek philosophers and continues to the modern era and the new data being gleaned from the study of exoplanetary systems. Throughout the text, the manner in which mathematical theory has been used to decipher, and impose order upon the solar system, will be examined. Attention and discussion will be directed towards the so-called Titius-Bode rule, a long-standing ordering principle, that in fact it has no physical underpinning or explanation.The story presented will look at how humanity has learned about the workings of the solar system, and it will look at the philosophical problems that arise when mathematical exposition leads observation. Furthermore, the fundamental role of mathematics in the development of physical theory is examined, and it is argued that there are some gaps in our knowledge of the solar system (and the universe) that mathematics and physical theory will never successfully bridge. The text will present material at the informed-amateur scientist, university undergraduate student level.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Singapore
Singapore
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
580 gr
ISBN-13
978-981-12-7640-8 (9789811276408)
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Schweitzer Classification