Print
Word
PDF
|
| Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. What mathematical theorem states that every simply connected, closed 3-manifold is homeomorphic to the 3-sphere?
2. Who is quoted in Chapter 1, "The Butterfly Effect" as saying "Physicists like to think that all you have to do is say, these are the conditions, now what happens next?"
3. Where was Thomas S. Kuhn born?
4. In Chapter 2, "Revolution," the author writes, "Professional scientists, given brief, uncertain glimpses of nature's workings, are no less vulnerable to anguish and confusion when they come face to face with" _______________?
5. Who is attributed with the following quote in the beginning of Chapter 3, "Life's Ups and Downs": "The result of a mathematical development should be continuously checked against one's own intuition about what constitutes reasonable biological behavior"?
Short Essay Questions
1. What role do computers and mathematical equations play in ecology and biology as described in Chapter 3, "Life's Ups and Downs"?
2. What was the early life of Benoit Mandelbrot like, as described by the author in Chapter 4, "A Geometry of Nature"?
3. How is James Yorke described in Chapter 3, "Life's Ups and Downs"? What term did he coin?
4. How is a Cantor set described in Chapter 4, "A Geometry of Nature"?
5. How did Benoit Mandelbrot describe the ideal data source in Chapter 4, "A Geometry of Nature"?
6. When and where was the National Meteorological Center founded in Chapter 1, "The Butterfly Effect"? What existed before it?
7. In Chapter 2, "Revolution" Gleick refers to the pendulum as being the laboratory mouse of chaos, the new science. What metaphorical examples does Gleick give for other great scientists in this chapter?
8. What did Edward Lorenz develop in order to assist in working with computer technology in Chapter 1, "The Butterfly Effect"? How did he feel about the future of forecasting?
9. What were the biggest issues with weather forecasting during Lorenz's time as described in Chapter 1, "The Butterfly Effect"? How is the Butterfly Effect defined?
10. What two technologies contributed to the development of global forecasting in Chapter 1, "The Butterfly Effect"?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Describe the origins and history of the National Meteorological Center (now the National Weather Service) and the European Center for Medium Range Forecasts. Where is each headquartered and how has it developed in today's world?
Essay Topic 2
Discuss the lives and works of Gustav Mahler and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and analyze their influence on Mitchell Feigenbaum. What work of Goethe's is quoted in the book?
Essay Topic 3
Describe Benoit Mandelbrot's work for International Business Machines Corporation. When was IBM founded and how was Mandelbrot involved in its evolution?
|
This section contains 974 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
|
