芝加哥科博馆(二): 大自然的数字 [配文] (四年级水平)

配文 [Emmie reads] Numbers in Nature: Mathematical patterns are hiding in plain sight throughout the natural world - from the delicate spiral of a seashell, to the ridges of majestic mountains, to the structure of the Universe. We walk, breathe, hear and even sing with pattern every day. They are inside us, surround us and connect each of us to nature. Understanding pattern reveals why things - from our bodies to buildings - are shaped the way they are, and why they function as they do. Discover patterns and numbers in nature to see the world in a whole new way. [Emmie&`&s sister: Ivanka reads] Violins makers designed the instrument to sound good. Coincidence? Golden Ratio: The proportions of a violin&`&s body are close to the Golden Ratio. Don&`&t mess with success! Spiral growth has worked for this guy since before the time of the dinosaurs. Spirals: As the nautilus grows from hatching to adult, its shell expands to from a spiral. Golden Ratio: Ancient Greeks admired the Golden Ratio as especially beautiful. The parthenon has proportions close to Golden Ratio. Fractal Branching: The veins of a leaf follow a fractal bracing patters to maximize the flow of liquid inside. Veins are a tree&`&s plumbing, keeping each leaf watered and fed. Math Takes Shape: Mathematical shapes are the building blocks of patterns. Each of these wooden models combines one or more basic shapes to create a more complex form. Triangle, square, pentagon or polygon, each piece in this collection is a repeating pattern of basic shapes. Chemist and woodworker William P Schooder was inspired by chemical and molecular bonds when he crafted these one of a kind math models. Look for these shapes in the models: Triangle, Square, Pentagon, Hexagon Octagon. Every group of four squares sits inside a fifth bigger square. Count the Squares: How many squares do you see? [Emmie&`&s friend: Nina reads] Can you spot the trends? Fast Track Climbing Wall. The two sets of lines on this Financial Fast Track climbing wall represent the performance of two different, but related, financial indicators during tow years in the life of Ball Enterprise&`&s stock price - what it costs to buy a single share of stock in the company. The bottom group represents Ball Enterprise&`&s earnings - the profits the company makes from the sale of its products. Can you see how the climber&`&s decisions shape Ball Enterprise&`&s financial performance? When would be the best time to buy stock in Ball Enterprise? When would be the best time to sell it? [Emmie reads] A tsunami is fast-moving energy in the form of a giant ocean wave. Scientists use tanks similar to this one to study tsunamis and other waves. Waves move energy from one place to another. Most waves form when wind blows across the surface of the ocean, transferring its energy to the water. However, tsunamis form when dramatic underwater events like earthquakes or landslides release huge amounts of energy into the water. The resulting tsunami wave carries energy across entire ocean. [Nina reads] Power from the sea: The ocean contains amount of energy that if harnessed could provide enough power for everyone on the planet many times over! Annette von Jouanne and her colleagues explore wave energy as a renewable energy source. They use Oregan State University&`&s wave tanks to test wave energy prototypes. [Ivanka reads] "Wave energy is always there. The waves just keep rolling." - Annette von Juanne, Electrical Engineer, Oregon State University [Emmie reads] Observe Convection in a Balloon: The hot air balloon will rise the temperature of the air inside of the balloon is significantly hotter than the air outside the balloon. Compare the colors in the turmoil image to the temperature bar. Watch the balloon in the turmoil image turn red as the air inside heats up. The air in the balloon expands as it is heated. This air in the balloon expands as it is heated. This hot air is less dense and more buoyant than the cooler air surrounding it. You will see that hot air rises and cold air sinks. This is convection at work. Hot air in the balloon will make it rise but as the air cools, the balloon&`&s ascent will slow down. Without adding more hot air, the balloon will eventually descend. [To be explored and continued]