In the Fibonacci sequence, each number is the sum of the two numbers preceding it. Hence, flower petals and pinecones are guided by the golden ratio, which is related to the Fibonacci sequence. In this way, the golden ratio gives the best spiral with no gaps. Put simply, it is the furthest away we can be from a fraction. Some of these spirals arise due to the golden ratio of 1.618 which is the most irrational number we can get. However, this article would be incomplete without a nod to the spirals that are too often seen in nature. This is a fine example of symmetry observed in nature that has now been employed on a large industrial scale and is something used by many of us every day.įractal and wallpaper symmetry are the two types I wanted to discuss. The metal is dispersed on the honeycomb structure of the support which provides a larger surface area to optimise the flow of gases over the catalyst. The support for the precious rhodium or platinum metal catalysts used is cordierite monolith. One of the finest examples of the use of catalysis is in catalytic converters used to turn pollutant gases such as nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxides into nitrogen dioxide and carbon dioxide gases, which are safer alternatives. Besides often being seen in architecture and other arts such as textiles, this structure has found great use in the field of chemical catalysis. This is the mathematical classification of a two-dimensional repetitive pattern inspired by honeycomb structures. In fractal symmetry, you find the same pattern within the pattern, which is why this can also be referred to as self-similarityĪnother type of symmetry I wish to discuss is the so-called wallpaper symmetry. This is an example of self-cleaning in nature and it is the fractal symmetry of the waxy crystals on the surface of the leaves that provides the enhanced hydrophobicity which makes this possible.įractal symmetry is when the same pattern is seen at increasingly small scales. While doing so, they take up the dust particles from the leaves in order to reduce the surface tension, resulting in the cleaning of the lotus leaves. This means that any water droplets on the lotus leaves are strongly repelled and slide off the surface. The Lotus leaves have a rough surface with micro- and nano-structures including waxy crystals that contribute to making the surface superhydrophobic. Another example is the Romanesco broccoli, but my favourite would have to be the Lotus effect. The trunk of a tree separates into branches which then separate into smaller branches and then twigs, and these get smaller and smaller. In fractal symmetry, you find the same pattern within the pattern, which is why this can also be referred to as self-similarity. So, just how many of us are aware of the way in which mathematics provides us with the reasoning to be able to praise the intrinsic beauty of nature? This is exactly what I hope to achieve in this article to show you how mathematics, something some of us may have dreaded at school, actually explains a lot of the things we see around us.įractal symmetry is when the same pattern is seen at increasingly small scales. The Fibonacci sequence, which you may think exists only in the pages of a Dan Brown novel, is also visible in some of nature’s most exquisite structures. It came as an even greater shock to discover that many natural phenomena are, in fact, fractal to some degree. You can probably imagine my surprise when I realised that this characteristic actually stemmed from mathematics. I’d always thought fractal symmetry, which cropped up in my physical chemistry lectures, was solely a chemical concept. Living with a mathematician this year has made me realise the unsung contribution mathematics makes when it comes to providing us with the reasoning to better appreciate the beauty of nature.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |