3 ms·
is this kosher? it starts out fine, explaining how complex systems are, well, complex. but then it starts to seem a bit odd because it ignores statistical pro
by andrewcooke 17y ago
is this kosher?
it starts out fine, explaining how complex systems are, well, complex. but then it starts to seem a bit odd because it ignores statistical properties (you can't predict the movement of every gas molecule in a box, but you can know the average temperature pretty damn accurately). and then suddenly it jumps to "constructal law":
> The Constructal Law applies to all flow systems which are far from equilibrium, like a river or the climate.
wtf? how can something as vague as "the climate" follow a law? and what's the constructal law? and so you go to wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constructal_theory http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constructal_theory - and it all starts to look a bit flakey...
[edit: less flippant]
- magoghm 17y agoAdrian Bejan, the guy who created/discovered Constructal Theory doesn't seem to be flakey at all: http://hcr3.isiknowledge.com/author.cgi?&link1=Search&link2=Search%20Results&AuthLastName=bejan&AuthFirstName=adrian&AuthMiddleName=&AuthMailnstName=&CountryID=-1&DisciplineID=0&id=533 http://hcr3.isiknowledge.com/author.cgi?&link1=Search... and http://www.mems.duke.edu/fds/pratt/MEMS/faculty/abejan/ http://www.mems.duke.edu/fds/pratt/MEMS/faculty/abejan/
- andrewcooke 17y agothanks. something still seems odd to me, but perhaps i am just too cynical. or perhaps it is being misapplied? when i have more time i will look at constructural theory in more detail.
- magoghm 17y agoAlthough the "James Harry Potter Gold Medal" sounds kind of weird, it is a real award: http://www.asme.org/Governance/Honors/SocietyAwards/James_Harry_Potter_Gold_Medal.cfm http://www.asme.org/Governance/Honors/SocietyAwards/James_Ha...
- bitwize 17y ago"For outstanding snitch catching on the Quidditch pitch, I present to you..."