Henri Poincare free essay sample

This idea of dynamical chaos addressed the question in a generalization of the three body problem, which was considered one of the most difficult problems in mathematical physics. The three body problem consists of nine simultaneous differential equations. The difficulty was in showing that a solution in terms of invariants converges. While Poincare did not succeed in giving a complete solution, his work was so impressive that he still won the prize. His work, though incomplete, was of such importance that it began a new era in the history of celestial mechanics (Argosy University, 2008). Poincare was a visionary who described the Hallmark of Chaos, or the sensitive dependence on initial conditions that determine the final outcome. He explained that small differences in the initial conditions produce very great ones in the final phenomena. He was considered by many to be one of Frances greatest theoretical scientists (Argosy University, 2008). While Newton believed cosmic motion was as reliable as the tick-tock of a clock, mathematicians and scientists like Henri Poincare discarded that idea through the development of the chaos theory. We will write a custom essay sample on Henri Poincare or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Chaotic systems are not truly random: Inexorable physical laws still apply. But in chaotic systems, such an enormous number of factors are involved that a tiny variation can lead to enormous, unpredictable changes down the road. Observations of planetary rings, asteroid placement, and the like seem to indicate that the motion of our solar system is indeed chaotic (Peterson, 1995). Poincare was aware of the unpredictability of some solutions of the equations of motion. He did not solve the three-body problem, but he proved that a simple, general solution did not exist. Poincare was the first to appreciate the complicated behavior that could result from the gravitational interaction of just three bodies.