Stuff You Should Know How Chaos Theory Changed the Universe
Jul 19, 2016
Discover how chaos theory revolutionizes our understanding of the universe beyond the confines of determinism. Uncover why the concept gained popularity through 'Jurassic Park' and explore the fascinating N-body problem. Learn about Edward Lorenz's groundbreaking work in weather prediction, which illustrated how tiny variations can lead to drastically different outcomes. Delve into the butterfly effect, strange attractors, and how these chaotic principles shape modern scientific practices and real-world predictions.
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Determinism Breaks With Small Errors
- Chaos describes systems whose future diverges wildly from small initial differences.
- Complex systems can be unpredictable even if you know their rules precisely.
Newton's Success Fueled Predictive Hubris
- Newtonian determinism led scientists to believe perfect prediction was possible with exact measurements.
- That confidence grew after successes like predicting Neptune from math alone.
Poincaré Proved Solar Stability Is Unprovable
- Poincaré showed the three-body problem prevents proving solar system stability.
- He concluded infinitely precise measurements would be required, making determinism unprovable.
