Newton's Clock: Chaos in the Solar System

by IvarsPeterson (Author)

• Used

  Paperback
  1995

  $3.41

  Astronomers, mathematicians, and physicists have barely got to grips with chaos, except as a 'problem' to be overcome. This book gives an excellent introduction to some of the issues and should be of interest to readers of all backgrounds. The Observatory Here is a book for all who thought that there was nothing new in Newtonian mechanics. New Scientist

• Used

  Hardcover
  1993

  $3.41

  In this book, author Ivars Peterson examines a mystery that has fascinated and tormented astronomers and mathematicians for centuries: are the orbits of planets and other bodies stable and predictable or are there elements affecting the dynamics of the solar system that defy calculation? It is one of the most perplexing, unsolved issues in astronomy, with each step toward its resolution-from Newton's clocklike mathematical models to the astonishing work of super computers exposing additional uncertainties and deeper questions about the stability of the solar system. To bring readers up to date with this scientific detective story, Newton's Clock describes the development of celestial mechanics-from the star charts of ancient navigators to the great Renaissance scientists; from the crucial work of Poincare to the startling, sometimes controversial findings and theories made possible by modern mathematics and computer simulations. Equal parts science and history, the book shows how the exploration of the solar system has taken us from clocklike precision into chaos and complexity.