Essay Abstract

The relation between mathematics and physics is perplexing. In this article I have taken excerpts from history where both the subjects have played a major role and provided exceptional contribution to the growth of one another. I have provided elaborate examples pertaining to the various connections between mathematics and physics and how they helped evolve each other. Though seemingly unrelated areas of study, physics and mathematics share an incontroversial and an everlasting bond.

Author Bio

I have a M. Sc. in nuclear physics (baroda university) and mathematics (IIT Bombay). Currently, I am a graduate student at Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio university, USA.

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Dear Sudhanva,

Thank you for this good piece showing the role of mathematics in the history of physics. About the power of permutation groups, you may be interested by my essay

http://fqxi.org/community/forum/topic/2376

Best wishes,

Michel

    Thank you for the positive comments. I would certainly check out the power of permutation groups. I am also interested in the role of symplectic groups and its relation to SU(n) including their representations, since this is of great importance in nuclear physics.

    Very well done and interesting essay. I most enjoyed the section on the mathematics of groups. This part of mathematics, in my opinion, plays the central role in our understanding of fundamental particles. With electrons/leptons being organized as SU(2) and quarks/hadrons showing properties that make them an SU(3) symmetry, the importance of these concepts in understanding fundamental particles cannot be overstated.

    I hope you get a chance to have a look at my essay here. I model particles of the standard model, starting with objects that fall into S(3) and SO(3) groupings and continue with objects that are capable of being described with SU(2) and SU(3) symmetries.

    Good luck in the essay and thank you for the great read.

    Regards,

    Ed Unverricht

    10 days later

    Dear Mr. Lalit,

    I thought that your essay was exceptionally well written and I do hope that it fares well in the competition.

    Joe Fisher

    18 days later

    Dear Sudhanva,

    I think Newton was wrong about abstract gravity; Einstein was wrong about abstract space/time, and Hawking was wrong about the explosive capability of NOTHING.

    All I ask is that you give my essay WHY THE REAL UNIVERSE IS NOT MATHEMATICAL a fair reading and that you allow me to answer any objections you may leave in my comment box about it.

    Joe Fisher