The Rainbow From Myth To Mathematics

Virtually every volume on mythology contains legends connected with the rainbow and practically all modern textbooks of physics include some exposition of the optical principles which account for the bow. Mankind has been thinking, talking and writing about the rainbow for thousands of years. The Rainbow: from Myth to Mathematics gathers material from a great number of primary and secondary sources in the hopes that readers may be tempted to study further some aspects of the history of the theory of the rainbow. Includes information on Aristotle, Francis Bacon, the Christian tradition, color, Rene, Descartes, fogbow, Augustin Fresnel, Galileo Galilei, halo, Islamic tradition, Jesuits, Johann Kepler, nature of light, mirrors, Sir Isaac Newton, Olympiodorus, physics, rainbow breadth, reflection, refraction, Robert Grosseteste, Themo Judoci, Witelo, etc.

Virtually every volume on mythology contains legends connected with the rainbow and practically all modern textbooks of physics include some exposition of the optical principles which account for the bow. Mankind has been thinking, talking and writing about the rainbow for thousands of years. The Rainbow: from Myth to Mathematics gathers material from a great number of primary and secondary sources in the hopes that readers may be tempted to study further some aspects of the history of the theory of the rainbow. Includes information on Aristotle, Francis Bacon, the Christian tradition, color, Rene, Descartes, fogbow, Augustin Fresnel, Galileo Galilei, halo, Islamic tradition, Jesuits, Johann Kepler, nature of light, mirrors, Sir Isaac Newton, Olympiodorus, physics, rainbow breadth, reflection, refraction, Robert Grosseteste, Themo Judoci, Witelo, etc.

The scientists of the twelfth century were daring, original, inventive, and above all determined to discover purely rational explanations of natural phenomena. Their intense interest in the natural world for its own sake, their habits of precise observation, and the high value they place on man as a rational being portend a new age in the history of scientific thought. This book offers a comprehensive sampling of medieval scientific thought in the context of an historical narrative.

Venerated as god and goddess, feared as demon and pestilence, trusted as battle omen, and used as a proving ground for optical theories, the rainbow's image is woven into the fabric of our past and present. From antiquity to the nineteenth century, the rainbow has played a vital role in both inspiring and testing new ideas about the physical world. Although scientists today understand the rainbow's underlying optics fairly well, its subtle variability in nature has yet to be fully explained. Throughout history the rainbow has been seen primarily as a symbol&—of peace, covenant, or divine sanction&—rather than as a natural phenomenon. Lee and Fraser discuss the role the rainbow has played in societies throughout the ages, contrasting its guises as a sign of optimism, bearer of Greek gods' messages of war and retribution, and a symbol of the Judeo-Christian bridge to the divine. The authors traverse the bridges between the rainbow's various roles as they explore its scientific, artistic, and folkloric visions. This unique book, exploring the rainbow from the perspectives of atmospheric optics, art history, color theory, and mythology, will inspire readers to gaze at the rainbow anew. For more information on The Rainbow Bridge, visit: &

The mathematical modelling movement in mathematics education at school and university level has been influencing curricula for about 25 years. Lecturers will find material to enhance their teaching and extracurricular activities and educators will find innovative ideas to inform their course design and focus their research, while students will find interesting problems to explore. Helps lecturers enhance their teaching and extracurricular activities Provides educators with innovative ideas to inform their course design and focus their research Students will find interesting problems to explore

Contents: (I) Ancient Theories of Visual Perception: The Physics of Vision; The Physiology of Vision; The Psychology of Visual Perception; (II) Optics Proper: Analysis of Direct Vision: The Visual Cone; The Visual Perception of Physical Space; Binocular Vision; (III) Catoptrics: Analysis of Vision by Reflected Rays: The Law of Equal Angles; Multiple Reflections and Multiple Images; The Principles of Image-Location; Image-Formation and Distortion; Visual Effecs from Composite Mirrors; (IV) Dioptrics: Analysis of Vision by Deflected Rays: Observation and Explanation of the Phenomenon; Practical Application: The Problem of Atmospheric Refraction; Image-Location as a Function of the Shape of the Refracting Surface; Size-Distortion; (V) Analysis of the Rainbow and of Burning Mirrors; (VI) Conclusion. Illus.

How heavy is that cloud? Why can you see farther in rain than in fog? Why are the droplets on that spider web spaced apart so evenly? If you have ever asked questions like these while outdoors, and wondered how you might figure out the answers, this is a book for you. An entertaining and informative collection of fascinating puzzles from the natural world around us, A Mathematical Nature Walk will delight anyone who loves nature or math or both. John Adam presents ninety-six questions about many common natural phenomena--and a few uncommon ones--and then shows how to answer them using mostly basic mathematics. Can you weigh a pumpkin just by carefully looking at it? Why can you see farther in rain than in fog? What causes the variations in the colors of butterfly wings, bird feathers, and oil slicks? And why are large haystacks prone to spontaneous combustion? These are just a few of the questions you'll find inside. Many of the problems are illustrated with photos and drawings, and the book also has answers, a glossary of terms, and a list of some of the patterns found in nature. About a quarter of the questions can be answered with arithmetic, and many of the rest require only precalculus. But regardless of math background, readers will learn from the informal descriptions of the problems and gain a new appreciation of the beauty of nature and the mathematics that lies behind it.

Comprehensive and cross-referenced, this informative volume is a rich introduction to the world of nature as experienced by ancient peoples around the globe. 51 halftones.