Volcanic eruption, Ngauruhoe, New Zealand. Photo from National Geophysical Data Center (US).
QUOTES
Patrick Suppes
The fundamental laws of natural phenomena are essentially probabilistic rather
than deterministic in character.
Norman Swartz
All statistical propositions that satisfy all other requirements for
physical lawfulness are physical laws.
DEMONSTRATIONS
Andrew
M. Rappe, JAVA Simulation of the Ideal Gas
The Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution is an important scientific principle which
describes how energy is distributed in a system. A JAVA applet allows you
to visualize and explore the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution.
LINKS TO BOOK DESCRIPTIONS
Chance:
The Life of Games & the Game
of Life
by Joaquim P. Marques de Sá
The mathematics of chance in a broad variety of contexts.
Laws
of the Game: How the Principles of Nature Govern Chance
by Manfred Eigen
The unique feature of this book is the invention of a selection of games
(in the format of beads on a board, with moves affected by die throws)
designed to mimic aspects of science models. The point is that "dice
and rules" is a good description for scientific modeling involving
probability.
LINKS
Stochastikon
Stochastic methods for modelling, for reducing, and for controlling uncertainty,
in contrast to the methods of traditional science.
Non-technical
books relating to Probability
The notion of “chance” in these books is much broader than what mathematically-oriented
readers regard as “probability.”
