Tải bản đầy đủ (.pdf) (6 trang)

Neither physics nor chemistry could have reached itspresent level without mathematics. doc

Bạn đang xem bản rút gọn của tài liệu. Xem và tải ngay bản đầy đủ của tài liệu tại đây (11.04 KB, 6 trang )

Neither physics nor chemistry could have reached its
present level without mathematics.
“Neither physics nor chemistry could have reached its
present level without mathematics.” Explain from
either physics or chemistry.

One of the greatest achievements of science is to find
relations and properties and explain them explicitly in the
form of a mathematical formula. relations in physical
science cannot be subjective as in the case of humanities.
When viewed mathematically, there seems to be a
precision in almost all scientific phenomena. Not only
qualities but also quantities are involved in science. When
we say that H2O stands for a molecule of water; it
explains many things; how many atoms of Hydrogen are
combined with how many atoms of Oxygen and what is
the molecular weight. When physical sciences use
formulae, it is nothing but putting things in mathematical
pattern. These formulae explain a world of things.
Mathematics also has a simple but grand way of
explaining things.

A few examples would suffice to prove this statement.
Take for example areas of physics. We speak of the
atomic weight. It is only a mathematical concept to say
that the atomic weight of Hydrogen is 1 and that of oxygen
is 16. Indirect measurements made in different ways help
to arrive at this conclusion.

Which physics student does not know that F = MA; MA
stands for force measured in terms of mass and


acceleration. To explain “force” verbally may be very
difficult but once the concept of the formula has been
caught, force is no more a difficult thing to conceive. The
formulae relating to the gas laws are again wonderful.
Look at P1V1/T1 = P2V2/T2 . This equation, gas equation,
as it is called brings about a holy wedlock between Boyle’s
law and Charles’ Laws. Where quantities of gases are
involved, this equation is useful. Mathematical reasoning
has helped to formulate an Absolute Scale of temperature,
though so far nobody has arrived at the formula for
Absolute Zero.

One more example is Einsteins formula E=mc2. Where E
is energy, m is mass and c is the velocity of light. What a
world of potentiality it has! This tiny formula had in it the
seed for nuclear physics. It also shows how two entities
which were thought to be separate are indeed different
phases of the same matter. Mass and energy are no more
separate.

There is no are where mathematics has not played its
part. Thus, it is safe to conclude that physical sciences
have reached their present heights due to mathematics,
with all its precision, conciseness and objectivity

×