2007-07-21 19:59:44 · 3 answers · asked by kalika 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
well maths is a large part of physics and physics is able to dertermine the speed, voleocity, displacement, inertia so on and so forth using newtons laws... so in doing this we can predict how far stars might move or how fast.... using maths is how pluto was found.
2007-07-21 20:10:11 · answer #1 · answered by <3YAY<3 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In astronomy, most things are too far away to lay hands on. So we make observations of as many kinds as we can, (mostly the electromagnetic spectrum, including visible light, x-rays, microwave etc.) and then use mathematics (and the natural sciences) to try to make sense of the data. If the math works out beautifully, this usually turns out to be the most exact explanation of what's out there.
Kepler and Copernicus used math to figure out the movements of the planets. (Not a circular orbit, but an ellipse!) Poincare did more detailed work on Mercury's odd motion in the 19th C.
Occasionally the math can make predictions what we should look out for, such as black holes, which were found after their mathematical description (Stephen Hawking).
Some philosphers don't agree with this and think math is only in our heads. Our heads, however, are in the universe. For actual logic, not just math, read about Bertrand Russell and Kurt Godel. Headcracking stuff.
Check out Henri Poincare's use of math in Peter Galison's readable book "Einstein's clocks and Poincare's Maps"
2007-07-25 03:41:22 · answer #2 · answered by Sophie G 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. Mathematics is used to predict things. Theory is used to explain things. Both are useful.
2007-07-24 07:06:44 · answer #3 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋